Kamloops City Council, January 28 (image credit - CFJC Today)
KAMLOOPS CITY COUNCIL

Kamloops council clears a path for hundreds of new rental units

Jan 28, 2025 | 4:51 PM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops city council was set to consider a trio of purpose built rental buildings on Tuesday (Jan. 28), as the community works toward housing targets imposed by the provincial government. The NDP government has stated that Kamloops failed to met its target for year one of the housing initiative, but did note the city is on track to met the year two goal, thanks to having more than 1,700 new units in the development pipeline.

City council moved forward 261 units of housing on Tuesday, with purpose-built rental developments in Valleyview, Sahali and Brocklehurst. The most contentious came in with a 120-unit apartment on Glenwood Drive.

“The public that I have spoken to on the subject have all indicated that this is a conflict on interest,” stated Calvin Allen, speaking during public submissions on the Glenwood project. “Three city councillors — Mike O’Reilly, Bill Sarai, Dale Bass — each received the maximum allowable campaign contributions from A&T Project Development officials.”

The donations came from individuals and not the development corporation itself. Sarai objected to the idea he and other councilors were in conflict, something that has been supported by the courts in past rulings, as stated by Councillor Kelly Hall during the meeting.

“I phoned Elections BC myself I am totally comfortable voting on this,” said Sarai. “I’m totally comfortable on the campaign contributions this group gave me or any other group in the city gave me. That does not mean I’m in a conflict. And I am okay where I am voting on this, so thank you for bringing that up but it’s a non-starter for me.”

Another resident spoke to a petition signed by more than 350 people opposed to the six-storey building, stating their plans to move forward with legal action following the approval.

“Valleyview residents are simply asking to reserve the existing zoning of four levels. The province has issued blanket legislation for all of British Columbia grouped together to push forward housing. Our cities are not the same and having the mandate is not working. People are pushing back and taking the government to task,” said Craig Jefferson.

Council did hear concerns about safety, posing questions about traffic and sidewalks to staff prior to voting 6-1 in favour of the item, with Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson alone in opposition to A&T Project Developments build.

“The reason we are in this housing crisis is because we have spent years and years saying we are all for development but as long as it doesn’t affect my backyard. Just not in this area. That doesn’t work. People are hurting. Sorry, but they are hurting,” said Gary Reed, VP of Development for the proponent A&T Project Developments. “It’s not a function of four storeys or six storeys. It’s a function of six storeys or zero units. The difference between a four-storey building with a pitched roof and a six-storey, flat roof building is nine feet, (seven-and-three-quarters inches) and that is not material enough to stop 150 people from being able to call a place home.”

Council also voted unanimously to approve 128 units along Notre Dame in Sahali at the site of the Bianca Amor discount shop and 13 units in Brock, all of which fell under the new revitalization tax exemption for new purpose-built rentals.