WATCH: Four-plexes like these could be coming to your neighbourhood

• Results are in from Infill Challenge 2.0
• Three winners and one honourable mention were selected from 56 submissions
• Designs will influence new infill zoning rules

How does the city get more infill housing on existing lots that don’t have back alleys?

That was the question posed in Kelowna’s Infill Design Challenge 2.0, the results of which were presented to city lawmakers.

Three winners and one honourable mention were selected from 56 submissions. The selected designs will be used to inform new infill housing rules in the new zoning bylaw being assembled by city staff.

The design challenge is also used to improve housing diversity in core neighbourhoods, show how infill can be livable, diverse, and meet community objectives, as well as enhance relationships between the city and industry.

Many of the four-plexes highlighted included unique but simple designs with shared outdoor space, be it covered parking and a patio, or an open-air courtyard.

“Looking forward to seeing these pop up in various core neighbourhoods and looking forward to future possibilities, perhaps pre-zoning or whatever the case may be to help facilitate these,” Mayor Colin Basran said.

His comments were echoed by his colleagues, though Coun. Loyal Wooldridge questioned city staff on how infill can address both density and affordability – key priorities for the city.

Staff admitted they were actively working on addressing the affordability aspect, noting a partnership with Small Housing BC. The non-profit society works to champion smaller homes in established neighbourhoods to address land use concerns and affordability.

“Typically, you would look for more significant measures for true affordability out of larger scale projects where you get the economy of scale,” James Moore, Long Range Policy & Planning Manager, said. “Infill, in some ways, struggles to deal with true deep affordability but we are exploring the ways we feel infill can contribute towards affordability.”

The results of that are expected to come before council in the next few months.