Construction times to be reviewed in Kelowna

With a population projected to skyrocket and thousands of new properties eligible for infill housing, construction times will be reviewed in the city.

Kelowna city council unanimously approved a move by Rick Webber to revisit when building is allowed.

Right now, construction can take place between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., 365 days a year. In Vancouver, for example, construction stops on Sunday.

“It seems like infill housing, and construction in our existing neighbourhoods, is here to stay,” Webber said, defending his move. “It seems like a good time to review the construction rules surrounding it.”

City staff will now look at other development-heavy cities and bring a report back to lawmakers on how to move forward.

Webber has previously told Kelowna10 he’s heard from some residents who’ve had to deal with noise virtually every day for years, whether it’s from a duplex going up next door or a large condo development.

Meantime, the Central Okanagan branch of the Canadian Home Builders Association said there would be multiple negative knock-on impacts of any workday hour changes.

“If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it,” Executive Director Daniel Winer previously told Kelowna10, noting a delayed start to the day would see workers spending more time in the peak Okanagan heat in the summertime, risking their safety.

He also argued the $31.5 million recently given to Kelowna by the federal government as a fast-track incentive to create almost 1,000 more homes, could be jeopardized.

Building times were last reviewed about eight years ago when the city adopted its Good Neighbour bylaw.