Council will hear a Staff report at their meeting on Sept. 7, 2021, that proposes to update the land use designation for eight properties on South Beach Drive adjacent to Skaha Lake. The properties at 270, 274, 278, 280, 286, 292, 298 South Beach Drive and 300 Sudbury Ave are currently developed as single-family housing but are designated as Parks and Recreation. The City had planned to purchase the properties to expand Skaha Lake Park but with the price of waterfront real estate continuing to escalate and limited interest from property owners to sell, the City has not been able to advance this vision beyond the purchase of a double lot at 298 South Beach Drive / 300 Sudbury Way in 1992. The City is proposing to revert the designation back to a residential land use, sell 298 South Beach Drive / 300 Sudbury Way, using the funds to advance other parks priorities.
“The vision of expanding the park through the acquisition of these properties dates back to 1990,” said Director of Development Services Blake Laven. “Rather than continue to tie up these funds in one isolated property, this proposal would make those resources available to advance other parks priorities that would benefit the wider community.”
If the Staff recommendation is supported by Council, the next step is to review the proposal with the community through an engagement process, including a review by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee. Feedback collected through the one-month engagement process will be reported back to Council prior to considering an amendment to the Official Community Plan. Some of the activities that members of the community can anticipate are a web page on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca, direct mail notification to nearby neighbours, newspaper advertising and public information sessions.
A copy of the Staff report including history of the properties and details about the proposed land use and zoning changes is available at www.penticton.ca. Details of the engagement program will be published as they are confirmed.