In 1998, the City of Kelowna created, by the Local Government Act, the Abbott Street and Marshall Street Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs) to protect our heritage districts. This area represents less than 1.5 km2 which is 0.5% of the City of Kelowna. Kelowna citizens and tourists alike come to enjoy these park-like historic conservation neighbourhoods. The Abbott Street Heritage Conservation Area is now one of Tourism Kelowna’s ‘must- sees’. It is known for its green spaces and major trees. 

With the recently approved Kelowna 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP), the Heritage Conservation Areas (HCAs) were designated as Core Area Neighbourhood (C-NHD) which allows : 4-plexes, row housing, small scale commercial and complimentary uses, small lots, low rise apartment housing and mixed use along transit supportive corridors.  The HCAs are included in the Kelowna South Central Association of Neighbourhoods (KSAN) area. KSAN objected to this designation when the 2040 OCP was being written as it was feared it would open up the HCAs to development. The Kelowna City planning department  assured the public that the HCAs were equally as protected as before this designation and referred to the guidelines for the HCAs in Chapter 23 of the 2040 OCP.

Despite these assurances that the C-NHD designation would not impact the HCAs, houses in the HCAs are now being advertised as Core Area Neighbourhood and as “Land Assembly” signalling development of the HCAs. One at a time, the houses are being demolished and new houses are now covering much of the lots and the guidelines for the area are not being followed. 

The 2040 OCP should be amended such that the HCAs are designated HCA (Heritage Conservation Area) and not C-NHD. Please support this petition to encourage Kelowna City Council to amend the 2040 OCP and protect the HCAs.