City of Kelowna Hillside Development

Client: City of Kelowna

The City of Kelowna commissioned UMA Engineering Ltd. to undertake a review and audit of City policies, practices and regulations pertaining to hillside development projects.  The objective of the review was to determine whether policies and regulations/bylaws need to be changed to achieve hillside development that is aesthetically pleasing, functionally appropriate, and environmentally sensitive.  The audit compared what the City expected with the adoption of hillside guidelines against what is being accomplished by developers (the developer’s delivery).

The review involved an assessment of existing bylaws, policies and practices, examination of files, field reviews, comparisons, research of “state of the art” hillside development processes in other jurisdictions. Input was obtained from staff, service providers, developers and residents using questionnaires, focus groups and open houses.  In total, 16 practical recommendations were developed, together with an implementation strategy to successfully attain change within the organization, all of which were endorsed by City Council. 

This project received a 2007 PIBC ‘Excellence in Planning’ Award from the Planning Institute of BC (PIBC).

“Part of our criteria is transferability, being able to take some of the lessons and examples that were used in this exercise and using them elsewhere. This is definitely transferable to all kinds of planning across the province."

- Tanis Knowles, Awards Committee Chairwoman