Residents of West Kelowna will soon get a chance to voice their opinion publicly on the urgent health care centre proposed for the municipality.

West Kelowna Council gave first and second reading to a zoning bylaw amendment Tuesday for the property at on Elliott Road.

The 2.7 hectare property remains in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Only the southern portion of the property is subject to the rezoning application.

The application will now go before a public hearing, likely to take place in the new year.

While council is supportive of the health care facility, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says Tuesday's decision concerned only the rezoning application.

"That was first and second reading to move it forward to a public hearing. That is where we could conceivably hear some concerns," says Findlater.

"At this point everything looks very positive."

As a condition of the zoning, the applicant (Interior Health) will be providing road dedication to widen Bering and Butt roads and at future stages of development, will be upgrading all roads fronting the subject property.

Findlater says that while the mood of the community seems to be positive, that could change in the minds of some as the development moves forward.

"There is always the possibility that we will hear some opposition from some people, particularly if they are a neighbour or something like that. It doesn't necessarily mean they are opposed, it's just that they may want an issue addressed such as roads or sidewalks or something like that."

Findlater says to this point, Interior Health have proven themselves to be a very good developer.

If all goes well with the public hearing and third and fourth readings, Interior Health hope to purchase the property early in the new year.