Council advanced the proposed North Gateway Redevelopment & Investment Strategy to the final round of public engagement at their meeting on May 17, 2022. The community is now invited to review the draft and share their feedback before the plan is finalized and brought back to Council for consideration at their meeting on June 21, 2022.
Imagined through the early community engagement phases of the process, the vision of the plan is to create a connected, complete sustainable destination that captures and celebrates Penticton’s natural beauty, sports excellence, events and festivals while adding to the economic vitality, housing diversity and local fare. To realize this vision, the plan identifies goals, strategies and development targets to address the need for diverse and affordable housing, provide tourist accommodation, expand available commercial space, protect the tree canopy, maintain park land, activate the public realm, and improve mobility through addressing parking needs and enhancing cycling, pedestrian and transit infrastructure.
“The plan includes strategies that will transform this area into Penticton’s first neighborhood where residents and visitors can live, work, shop and play within a 15-minute walk to anywhere in the plan boundaries,” said General Manager of Community Services Anthony Haddad.
Ideas including expanding multi-use park space, improving mobility and connections and public realm design, allowing for the redevelopment of higher density housing and hotel projects, and siting future civic arenas and event space to the west of the Events Centre, are just a few of the changes that the community is invited to consider within the draft plan. Haddad indicated that many of the ideas included in the plan would require additional consultation and review processes before they would be implemented over the coming years.
“Council is very encouraged by the direction of this plan and strongly believe the proposed goals and strategies reflect the needs and opportunities in our community,” said Acting Mayor Judy Sentes. “It’s important to understand that this plan will guide decisions that will shape the future of this area for years to come and the time is now to get involved and ensure we are headed in the right direction. Council is looking forward to hearing the feedback from the community.”
A draft of the plan is now available at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca for citizens to review and comment. The first opportunity to discuss the plan in person is at the upcoming Hot Topics Open House on May 19 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre between 4 pm and 7 pm. Following the open house, the displays and a feedback form will be available in the lobby at the Community Centre. An online information session is planned for May 26 between 6:30 and 8 pm to walk residents through a presentation on the plan and answer any questions. The link to sign up is available at shapeyourcitypenticton.ca. A second in-person, drop-in session is planned for June 1, between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm in the lobby at the Community Centre. Feedback will be collected through to June 5, 2022.