VIDEO: Drastic changes not expected with new infill housing rules

The provincial government's infill housing rules will allow for up to six units on single-family lots, but it remains unlikely one will pop up next door.

The people in Kelowna's planning department aren't expecting drastic changes.

"I don't have a crystal ball," said Nola Kilmartin, "but I don't believe so."

Kilmartin expects the results of the new policies to roll out slowly.

"I think it's going to be quite incremental per neighbourhood," she said.

Because Kelowna has been classified as a 'snow community', any three, four, five or 6-plex would still require off-street parking, and they still meet a host of other requirements at city hall.

"They will still be required to provide parking and sufficient landscaping that complies with the bylaw as well as setbacks and things of that nature that apply with the building code."

So, what are the chances of a six-plex getting approved in most single-family neighbourhoods?

"Unlikely," said Kilmartin.

"A lot of the new neighbourhoods don't have laneway access," she said.

"And a lot of those properties aren't large enough."

In your typical Upper Mission neighbourhood, for example? Forget about it.

"If you're in a neighbourhood where the homes are quite large and cover a great deal of your property, it's unlikely we're going to see that kind of scale of development," said Kilmartin.

What residents are likely to see are less dramatic changes.

"I think there will be people who have a single-family home that doesn't have a lot of lot coverage," suggested Kilmartin, "and they may add an additional unit onto the back of their property."

And some newer subdivisions come with their own restrictions.

"The developers themselves can restrict with their building schemes how many units get," she said.

"So those supersede the zoning bylaw and the province's regulations within those subdivisions."

Kelowna is expected to be among the first municipalities in BC to implement the changes, but the public will have a chance to be heard on it.

The changes will mean amending the Official Community Plan.

That means a public hearing in the weeks or months ahead.