Low income housing project gets initial support from Vernon city council

Photo: Google Street View

A low income housing project is moving on to the next step in the approval process despite opposition to the location of the project by Vernon’s mayor.

The project at 6545 Okanagan Landing Road proposes to build 96 units. It was before Vernon city council at the Monday meeting, to request initial support to changes to city bylaws to allow for the greater density housing to go up.

Mayor Victor Cumming raised concerns over the location for the housing. He said despite the need for housing and projects like this, he was "really struggling" due to the far distance from things like grocery stores and jobs – meaning it didn’t fit with the city's OCP.

Coun. Brian Quiring said he respectfully disagreed with Cumming, saying the lot is close to school and parks. He also said it’s within a reasonable distance to amenities, and people could use alternative transportation, like cycling, to get places.

Coun. Kari Gares echoed Quiring’s sentiments highlighting the project would provide housing to an income level that has been overlooked by the city in the past, according to the recently completed Housing Needs Assessment.

“When we look at the physical 96 units – these units are going to support seniors, they're going to support single families, working families,” said Gares.

“This is exactly the type of housing that our housing needs assessment is saying: This is what we're missing.”

Chief Administrative Officer Patti Bridal cautioned council against “debating the merits of the application” before any type of public input was held. Bridal said council was meant to simply support in principle the project.

Council passed the motion to support required changes in principle, the project will move to public consultation.

The project was recently announced by Okanagan Village Housing Society and made possible through a $1 million anonymous donation.

Photo: City of Vernon

Project site plan