New road needs your OK

Photo: Contributed

The City of Kelowna will need taxpayer approval to accelerate construction of the controversial South Perimeter Road.

Council will determine Monday whether to use the alternative approval process to construct the road, identified in the city's Official Community Plan since 1995.

Under an AAP, 10 per cent of the city's eligible voters would have to object within 30 days to kill the plan, or force a city-wide referendum.

“South Perimeter Road has been identified since 1995 in the City’s OCP, Road Network Plans and 2030 Infrastructure Plan for construction once warranted by residential density on the South Slopes,” said real estate services manager Johannes Saufferer.

“It is an important connection that will provide a third link in and out of the Upper Mission.”

In 2015, a development proposal was brought before council by the developer to accelerate the project.

If approved Monday, the city would look for voter assent to proceed with an agreement with Ponds Ventures to redirect development cost charges collected from the Southwest Mission toward repayment of construction costs of the road, and extension of Gordon Drive.

The project would include about 2.9 kilometres of road construction. If approved, work would begin in the spring, with completion in spring 2019.

Funding is limited to a maximum of $10.763 million.