West Kelowna’s five neighbourhood associations highlighted four common issues in their presentations to council on May 20:
The need for a second power line and a second lake crossing, investment in solar power, and the affirmation that West Kelowna is a great place to live.
“Power line redundancy—we know if this were your decision, you would have done it yesterday,” Gellatly Bay–Goats Peak Community Association President David Patterson told council.
He encouraged council to keep raising the issue with BC Hydro and the province. The project has been discussed since 2007. BC Hydro identified a new leading alternative for its West Kelowna Transmission Project in 2024.
Glenrosa Residents Association President Dan Goy presented council with several reasons to invest in solar power. His research found that the city could potentially generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue with a solar farm.
“So, a seven-acre solar farm would generate somewhere between $300,000–$400,000 depending on a number of situations,” he said.
He also asked council to consider dropping the current $1,200 building permit fee for installing solar panels.
“Vernon, Kelowna, Summerland—they charge nothing when it comes to a building permit.”
Staff were looking into that issue during the meeting.
Mayor Gord Milsom noted that there is an initiative to install solar panels at some city facilities under the Corporate Climate Action Plan.
For Casa Loma Community Association President George Lake, a second bridge across Okanagan Lake was a major concern.
“We are getting more and more people on this side, and they are going across the bridge—I look at the slow-moving traffic from my house every day,” he added.
Tom Groat, president of the Shannon Lake Neighbourhood Association, echoed his colleagues’ concerns and reiterated the need for a community centre.
“Being able to find some place to host a celebration of life, a wedding, or a community group—there’s just a limited number of spaces,” he noted. “We hope to get residents, businesses, and service clubs involved with this particular project.”
Lakeview Heights Community Association President Mark Godlewski agreed with the issues of a second power line, second crossing, and solar power.
He also told council that his community is in need of walking and bike paths.
“We recognize sidewalks are expensive to put in,” he said.
Godlewski added that the community would like to see several local roads widened and bike lanes added.
“So that people can get access to the community without going on major roads.”
He said the community would also appreciate having more active parks to enjoy.
“You’re a critical piece of our social infrastructure, and we appreciate everything that you do and the time you put into bettering your neighbourhoods,” Milsom added.
