The District of Lake Country has been working collaboratively with the City of Kelowna on a proposed boundary adjustment between Beaver Lake Rd and McCarthy Rd which would see five properties transferred to the District of Lake Country from the City of Kelowna. Two of the properties are privately owned and three parcels are part of the Okanagan Rail Trail.
“We’re eager to discuss this at next week’s Council meeting,” said Mayor Blair Ireland. “Expanding the District’s tax base and reducing future tax burdens for homeowners is a top priority for us. We’ve established a strong relationship with Kelowna, our nearest neighbour, and continuing our collaboration with them is an important conversation to have.”
Bringing the five properties into the District’s boundary and tax base is consistent with Council’s priorities identified in a 2022 MOU with the City of Kelowna and the Okanagan Indian Band. District staff and Kelowna City staff have been working together to prepare a joint boundary adjustment submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs; and elector approval must be obtained based on the requirements in the Local Government Act and Community Charter.
A Community Open House is being planned to answer questions from residents before either an Alternative Approval Process (AAP) or full Referendum is held to gauge support for the boundary adjustment. “Unlike many processes that require elector approval, the boundary adjustment would not result in a tax increase for District residents; instead, it would increase the municipal tax base, and help lower future reliance on residential taxes” noted Mayor Ireland.
The two private parcels on Bottom Wood Lake Rd and Beaver Lake Rd are part of a broader redevelopment site that straddles the City and District boundary but receives infrastructure services and access from the District. Planning for cohesive development with proposed rental housing units, and servicing costs recovered from the development, is both practical and important to the betterment of the Lake Country community. A report on the boundary adjustment process is included on the published Council agenda for the September 3, 2024 Regular Council Meeting.