Developer wants time to engage on future of Kelowna Springs

The new owners of the Kelowna Springs Golf Course are not dismissing the possibility of retaining a nine-hole layout and, perhaps, opening a pickleball centre as part of their plans to development the land into industrial use.

They’re also expressing frustration with city council’s opposition to their plans even though Kelowna’s Official Community Plan to 2040 (OCP 2040), supports industry in that location.

The land, south of the airport off Highway 97, is currently designated for industrial use but is still zoned for park and public use.

Some city councillors campaigned to save the golf course during the recent municipal election after widespread concerns were raised by the public.

Garry Fawley, the CEO of Denciti Development Corp., was speaking after city council took the first step Monday towards a public hearing – possibly by the summer - that could lead to the re-designation of the land use from industrial back to private recreational.

This follows concerns from golfers about losing the affordable public recreational space.

Golf could remain on property

“I don’t think 18 holes will work based on the economics of today,” Fawley told Kelowna10. “Everything else is on the table."

He said a nine-hole course and pickleball courts are among the options, but he wants time to engage with user groups, possibly until the fall.

“I say this all the time: if it goes to the newspapers that we’re closing down a golf course you get immediate reaction. Who comes out with placards to support a new industrial development?”

Fawley insisted the plus-thousand jobs and $1 million a year tax boost the industrial project would generate needs to be considered by all Kelowna citizens, as he said some of that tax revenue would go to green space and parks across the city.

“Industry has been set up to be here [where the golf course is], whereas as a green space it’s remote, it’s fallow for five months of the year, two percent of the population I think even goes there. I don’t think it’s ... a strong space for this green setting.”

Fawley expressed his frustration that city council was attempting to return the land to a private recreation designation, possibly in the coming months, and yet it took four years for council to approve the OCP 2040 that earmarks that land for industrial development.

Council wants public hearing

However, many on city council don’t want the Kelowna Springs Golf Course to be sacrificed, and the majority supported the idea of taking the matter of changing the OCP 2040 designation to a public hearing - possibly in July - as put forward by councillor Luke Stack on Monday.

“I think I have received more correspondence on this matter than any other issue that I’ve dealt with in my fourteen years on council,” he said. “The developer has clearly made a speculative purchase with the intention of rezoning the property to industrial some time in the future.”

Stack said the public had made it clear during the election last year that Kelowna Springs Golf Course should be kept as a flat, walkable green space.

He added private recreational space contributes to a strong tourism sector, and a recent public survey indicated the loss of the golf course would further add to the public’s perception that, for many, quality of life is diminishing in Kelowna.