Will recreational offerings get Kelowna Springs development approved?

The company behind the proposed 35-acre industrial park on the lands it owns - which includes the Kelowna Springs golf course - is hoping their plans to also offer extensive recreational space and facilities will help convince city council to support it.

It has been more than two years since Denciti Development Corp. bought the 106-acre parcel at 480 Penno Rd., which, at the time, was land designated for industrial use as part of the Gateway belt surrounding the airport.

However, given the public backlash to the loss of a popular and affordable 18-hole golf course, city council later voted to change the land use to private residential. The City then tried to purchase the land from Denciti but said the owner was not a willing seller.

No formal application to the city has yet been made regarding the proposed development.

The golf course has since been reduced to nine holes to allow for the development on the other half of the land. Now, Garry Fawley, the CEO of Denciti, is presenting a plan with a 12-court year-round pickleball centre, 10-acre walking and biking trail, and the nine-hole golf course on a sub-divided part of the land. That would mean the property could remain recreational and the current operator of the golf course could keep it as an ongoing concern.

"The recreational [aspect] I'm really quite proud of," Fawley told Kelowna10 when showing off the plans at a public info session this week. " We retain nine holes... then the pickleball; we've spoken to the [pickleball] club. They need this kind of facility year-round so we're working closely with them.

"When we finish this, on the recreational side, it'll be diversified, enhanced, with more Kelownites using it per year and year round."

The recreational spaces are in addition to the main thrust of the venture which is a site Denciti says could provide up to 700 jobs and address the acute shortage of industrial land in the city. What Fawley calls 'employment land' would offer space for various industries.

"It's quite economically diversified: aerospace, manufacturing, logistics," he explained. "We're anxious to get this on the market to find new businesses for Kelowna."

Asked if he thought his mix of industrial and recreational plans would meet with city council's approval, Fawley said he and his team have taken an approach where they have and will listen to the city and the community.

"We've put our best foot forward. I'm convinced it's a win-win for Kelowna. It's up to council to evaluate [our plan]. I will speak to them, I'll speak to residents. I honestly believe it's an excellent outcome for this piece of property."