Penticton council will review proposals to protect historic neighbourhoods

Penticton mayor and council will be giving further consideration to proposed protections for residential areas along Lakeshore Drive West and the Cherryland neighbourhood.

In April 20202, council considered several recommendations to see additional heritage protection on Lakeshore Drive West, Windsor Avenue and Front Street.

During a meeting on April 5, 2022, council members supported zoning changes and recognizing buildings on Lakeshore and within the Cherryland neighbour (Windsor, Conklin and Douglas area) on the city’s Heritage Registry.

Council also supported the idea of developing a heritage conservation area along Front Street and the 100-300 blocks of Main Street.

On Tuesday, council will be introduced to the proposed OCP and zoning bylaw changes that will see building setbacks, heights and lot widths match the historic character of each area.

The OCP amendment would see the addition of a policy statement that guides owners, developers, planning staff and council when considering new development in the Lakeshore Drive and Cherryland neighborhoods.

“The broad high level statement is intended to convey a desire for the heritage character of the neighbourhood to be taken into consideration in the planning of new developments,” staff explain in their report.

The zoning changes would be more specific, say city staff.

While reviewing the zoning bylaws in place for each neighbourhood, city staff found that the current zones were “out of line” with the historic context of each area.

Here’s what planning staff are proposing for the zoning regulations along Lakeshore Drive W:

• Increasing front yard set back to a minimum of 10 metres for areas west of Winnipeg Street

• Introducing height restrictions along Lakeshore Drive and reducing side yard setbacks

Planning staff are proposing increasing the front yard requirements to 7.5 metres for all R1, R2, RD1 and RD2 zones on Windsor Avenue, Scott Avenue, Conklin Avenue, Argyle Street, Moosejaw Street and Timmins Street.

They are also proposing a maximum building height of 7.5 metres for all new developments in this area.

According to public engagement results, 80% of survey participants want to see steps taken to preserve the character of the neighborhood near Windsor Avenue.

“Residents on Lakeshore Drive were slightly less supportive of taking steps to preserve character than the response as a whole,” reads staff’s report.

“Comments were mixed on whether or not the city should protect the character or allow properties to be modernized.”

Most residents were supportive of the zoning changes to front yard setbacks, lowering building heights and increasing minimum lot widths.

Despite the feedback, city staff say they did not receive as much as they would have liked and the results may not be entirely representative of both neighbourhoods.

If council decides to move forward with the zoning changes, the public will be invited to a public hearing scheduled for Feb. 28.

Work is ongoing for identifying Heritage Registry candidates along Lakeshore Drive and Windsor Avenue and in developing a downtown Heritage Conservation Area.

Penticton council will review this matter on Tuesday at 1 pm.

Thumbnail photo credit: City of Penticton