Council Highlights November 14, 2023
November 14, 2023
In Camera Rise and Report – Visitor Centre Move to Peachland Museum
Mayor Van Minsel rose and reported that, at its In-Camera meeting on October 10, 2023, Peachland Council agreed to direct Administration to enter into an agreement to have the Peachland Historical Society operate the Visitor Centre from the Peachland Museum, beginning March 2024. The Visitor Centre will move from its current location at the Historical Schoolhouse.
Historic Schoolhouse
Council discussed the future of the Historic Schoolhouse considering the move of the Visitor Centre to the Peachland Museum. Council heard earlier in the meeting from the Peachland Arts Council speaking to the need to keep the Art Gallery in the Historic Schoolhouse space for a variety of reasons that benefit the community. Mayor Patrick Van Minsel indicated he had spoken with other community groups about using space in the schoolhouse together. Council discussed the potential and agreed to direct staff to continue the conversations with the three groups, the Peachland Arts Council, the Bat Education and Ecological Protection Society and the Okanagan Folk School to develop an agreement where the three groups would collaboratively operate the Historic Schoolhouse.
Hardy Falls Development
Council gave final approval for Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments for a 2-acre vacant lot in the Hardy Falls neighbourhood. The lot fronts Thorne Road to the south and west and residential lots to the north and east. The property is now zoned Low Density Residential and Single Detached Residential allowing an eight-lot single-family residential subdivision once sewer and stormwater services are extended to the area and upgrades to Thorne Road and Hardy Street and the surrounding water system are complete.
Council Meeting Schedule for 2024
Council approved its meeting schedule for 2024. The approved schedule for Regular Council Meetings is available HERE Downtown Revitalization Task Force
Council agreed to establish the Downtown Revitalization Task Force to help guide the development of the Peachland Downtown Revitalization Implementation Strategy. The Task Force will serve as a short-term advisory group and will also oversee the Peachland Complete Communities Assessment. In August 2023, the District of Peachland was awarded $150,000 for this assessment, intended to examine the District’s physical characteristics for community completeness and land use scenarios and help identify where to diversify housing options, identify transportation and infrastructure implications and other elements of a complete community. The assessment aligns with several of Council’s strategic objectives and contributes to the District’s commitment to creating a more complete, compact, and energy efficient community. The task force will meet approximately five times over a six-month period from January to June 2024 and be involved in key stages of the development of the Downtown Revitalization Implementation Strategy. The project aligns with many of Council’s strategic objectives and contributes to the District’s commitment to creating a more complete, compact, and energy efficient community. Peachland to West Kelowna Trail Grant
Council supported the District’s application to the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant program for up to $500,000 to help fund construction of the Peachland to West Kelowna Multi-Use Trail. If successful, the District could pair this provincial grant with a federal grant that has been promised for the project and has already earmarked its share in its 2024 Budget. The proposed 2.8 km trail starts just north of the intersection of Highway 987 and Buchanan Road and ends near the Seclusion Bay underpass in West Kelowna. It will provide a safe, protected multi-use pathway, allowing essential active transportation between the two communities. This trail section would provide a critical link in a 250 km multi-purpose trail system that will span the Okanagan Valley. Three trail systems are close to connecting the communities from Sicamous in the north to Osoyoos in the south with the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail, the Okanagan Rail Trail and The Trail of Okanagans. A fully connected trail system is expected to have a profound economic impact for the region and communities along the system and would vault the trail system to one of international significance. Upcoming Ministers Meeting
Mayor Van Minsel advised that a delegation from Peachland Council will travel to Victoria next week for meetings with the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and the Honourable Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. The meetings are at Peachland’s request and are intended to further discussions related to infrastructure and housing pressures in Peachland. Peachland’s Own Soccer Teams
Councillor Randey Brophy provided welcome news that the Central Okanagan Youth Soccer Association has paved the way for Peachland children to play together on Peachland teams within the Penticton Pinnacles Youth Soccer Association. Two Peachland teams played on a trial basis this past season in the Penticton club. In the past, Peachland kids would need to join teams in neighbouring communities without designated Peachland teams. It is expected five Peachland teams will be created for the season beginning in April 2024. In Camera Rise and Report – Development Application Prioritization
Mayor Van Minsel rose and report that Council passed a motion at its In Camera meeting on October 24, 2023 to direct staff to draft and bring forward for Council consideration a formal policy on the prioritization of development applications. OTHER COUNCIL NEWS: Next Council Meeting
Peachland Council’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, November 28, 2023 beginning at 6 pm. Keep informed; subscribe to get news and event information emailed directly to you at www.peachland.ca/newsletter. Find webcasts of past meetings at www.peachland.ca/watch.
Council Meeting - November 14, 2023
Distributed November 15, 2023In Camera Rise and Report – Visitor Centre Move to Peachland Museum
Mayor Van Minsel rose and reported that, at its In-Camera meeting on October 10, 2023, Peachland Council agreed to direct Administration to enter into an agreement to have the Peachland Historical Society operate the Visitor Centre from the Peachland Museum, beginning March 2024. The Visitor Centre will move from its current location at the Historical Schoolhouse.
Historic Schoolhouse
Council discussed the future of the Historic Schoolhouse considering the move of the Visitor Centre to the Peachland Museum. Council heard earlier in the meeting from the Peachland Arts Council speaking to the need to keep the Art Gallery in the Historic Schoolhouse space for a variety of reasons that benefit the community. Mayor Patrick Van Minsel indicated he had spoken with other community groups about using space in the schoolhouse together. Council discussed the potential and agreed to direct staff to continue the conversations with the three groups, the Peachland Arts Council, the Bat Education and Ecological Protection Society and the Okanagan Folk School to develop an agreement where the three groups would collaboratively operate the Historic Schoolhouse.
Hardy Falls Development
Council gave final approval for Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments for a 2-acre vacant lot in the Hardy Falls neighbourhood. The lot fronts Thorne Road to the south and west and residential lots to the north and east. The property is now zoned Low Density Residential and Single Detached Residential allowing an eight-lot single-family residential subdivision once sewer and stormwater services are extended to the area and upgrades to Thorne Road and Hardy Street and the surrounding water system are complete.
Council Meeting Schedule for 2024
Council approved its meeting schedule for 2024. The approved schedule for Regular Council Meetings is available HERE Downtown Revitalization Task Force
Council agreed to establish the Downtown Revitalization Task Force to help guide the development of the Peachland Downtown Revitalization Implementation Strategy. The Task Force will serve as a short-term advisory group and will also oversee the Peachland Complete Communities Assessment. In August 2023, the District of Peachland was awarded $150,000 for this assessment, intended to examine the District’s physical characteristics for community completeness and land use scenarios and help identify where to diversify housing options, identify transportation and infrastructure implications and other elements of a complete community. The assessment aligns with several of Council’s strategic objectives and contributes to the District’s commitment to creating a more complete, compact, and energy efficient community. The task force will meet approximately five times over a six-month period from January to June 2024 and be involved in key stages of the development of the Downtown Revitalization Implementation Strategy. The project aligns with many of Council’s strategic objectives and contributes to the District’s commitment to creating a more complete, compact, and energy efficient community. Peachland to West Kelowna Trail Grant
Council supported the District’s application to the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant program for up to $500,000 to help fund construction of the Peachland to West Kelowna Multi-Use Trail. If successful, the District could pair this provincial grant with a federal grant that has been promised for the project and has already earmarked its share in its 2024 Budget. The proposed 2.8 km trail starts just north of the intersection of Highway 987 and Buchanan Road and ends near the Seclusion Bay underpass in West Kelowna. It will provide a safe, protected multi-use pathway, allowing essential active transportation between the two communities. This trail section would provide a critical link in a 250 km multi-purpose trail system that will span the Okanagan Valley. Three trail systems are close to connecting the communities from Sicamous in the north to Osoyoos in the south with the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail, the Okanagan Rail Trail and The Trail of Okanagans. A fully connected trail system is expected to have a profound economic impact for the region and communities along the system and would vault the trail system to one of international significance. Upcoming Ministers Meeting
Mayor Van Minsel advised that a delegation from Peachland Council will travel to Victoria next week for meetings with the Honourable Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and the Honourable Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. The meetings are at Peachland’s request and are intended to further discussions related to infrastructure and housing pressures in Peachland. Peachland’s Own Soccer Teams
Councillor Randey Brophy provided welcome news that the Central Okanagan Youth Soccer Association has paved the way for Peachland children to play together on Peachland teams within the Penticton Pinnacles Youth Soccer Association. Two Peachland teams played on a trial basis this past season in the Penticton club. In the past, Peachland kids would need to join teams in neighbouring communities without designated Peachland teams. It is expected five Peachland teams will be created for the season beginning in April 2024. In Camera Rise and Report – Development Application Prioritization
Mayor Van Minsel rose and report that Council passed a motion at its In Camera meeting on October 24, 2023 to direct staff to draft and bring forward for Council consideration a formal policy on the prioritization of development applications. OTHER COUNCIL NEWS: Next Council Meeting
Peachland Council’s next regular meeting is Tuesday, November 28, 2023 beginning at 6 pm. Keep informed; subscribe to get news and event information emailed directly to you at www.peachland.ca/newsletter. Find webcasts of past meetings at www.peachland.ca/watch.