What am I actually going to do? I was afraid you wouldn’t ask…
I’m less “coming in with a list of promises” and more “here to ask questions”…
Development creates homes, businesses and jobs. It can also create enormous private land value while requiring roads, sewers, parks, transit and other infrastructure. I'm looking at real developments to understand what developers actually pay, what taxpayers pay, and whether we're capturing enough of the value created by growth. That's especially interesting now that Council has pursued temporary reductions in Development Cost Charges to improve project viability.
If we’re going to grow, what should Kelowna get in return?
Are we keeping public spaces truly public?
You might have seen my Instagram videos about The Eldorado boardwalk closure. And really, that’s where this campaign started long before the idea of running even crossed my mind (check out my Instagram highlights for the saga). It started as a simple question about a locked gate and ended in widespread public attention and a move from the city to expropriate land from a private corporation.
But while The Eldorado boardwalk presents an interesting case study, it’s part of a broader question on my mind: when private property and public rights collide, who is responsible for properly defending public interests?
What needs to be true for significant North Glenmore development to be a good idea?
North Glenmore is being seriously considered for significant future expansion. Rather than starting at yes or no, I want to understand the tradeoffs. What would it cost? What land needs protecting? What infrastructure would be required? Could development there help pay for dramatically better transportation between North Glenmore, UBCO, the airport and the rest of Kelowna? The City describes the current process as long-term planning for possible growth beyond the existing growth boundary, including detailed consideration of roads, transit, water, and sewer costs. And maybe that makes perfect sense, but we need to make sure it works for everyone.
Why can Kelowna get richer while living here gets harder?
It’s no secret Kelowna is growing rapidly and bringing in billions in new development. And that’s ok. But I want to understand where that new wealth goes, how much the public captures when City decisions like rezoning create enormous increases in land value, and how we make growth improve life for the people already living here. A wealthier Kelowna should ultimately mean a better life for everyone.
Housing isn't the only thing making Kelowna expensive. Transportation is a huge household cost too. Not to mention, Kelowna traffic sucks. I'm interested in what serious transit would actually require, particularly between our major neighborhoods, downtown, UBCO and the airport. Kelowna already identifies improved transit and exploring alternatives between UBCO/YLW and downtown among its priorities, so I want to know what a realistic plan looks like, who’s going to pay for it, and how we meaningfully move forward on it.