A rezoning request to create a new comprehensive development (CD) zone near the Kamloops Airport has been sent to a public hearing.
On Tuesday, Kamloops City Council reviewed the rezoning request for 3035 Airport Road.
The zoning of nearly 300 hectares (ha) of land would be changed from the A1 (Agricultural), T2 (Airport), and I1S (Industrial Park) to a new CD10 zone with some areas zoned as P1 (Parks and Recreation).
According to the staff report, the goal of rezoning all this land would be to allow a broader range of commercial, industrial and airport-related uses.
The report says an area near the airport is currently being developed and if the zoning is approved, would further implement the Airport Authority’s vision for the area.
The rezoning, if approved, would also designate city-owned parkland along the Thompson River.
The large CD zone would be broken down into six subzones in an effort to focus land use into “appropriate” areas.
That includes:
Subzone “A” – main terminal building, administration offices and runways
Subzone “B” – north side of Airport Road, permits commercial and industrial uses that may or may not be directly airport-related
Subzone “C” – located in three separate areas on the airport lands and provides for more intensive light industrial and service commercial airside uses
Subzone “D” – provides airside commercial and select non-airside uses that service airside operations
Subzone “E” – the gateway commercial zone that will focus on vehicular-oriented uses, including fuel sales and retail commercial
Subzone “F” – along north boundary of the property, will permit uses similar to zone “B”
Coun. Bepple wondered what would happen to the walking trails at the southwest corner of the proposed CD area, saying that the city was talking about the parcel as a whole.
“I’m asking staff whether we just note that there could be a change after the public hearing or do we … How do we address that issue,” coun. Bepple asked.
City staff said they could look into implementing a statutory right of way to allow public access through that southeast corner, an area frequented by dog walkers and hikers.
However, staff told council those changes or any changes to the boundary of the proposed CD area would need to be done prior to the public hearing.
Staff said discussion around the CD zone's boundary did not focus on the low lying area, which is located within the proposed subzone “A”, and it was the thought to maintain walking trails.
Several councillors wanted to include the proposed statutory right of way within the recommendation brought forward by staff on Tuesday.
After a lengthy discussion, it was decided to simply accept staff’s recommendation to give first and second readings and forward the matter to a public hearing for later this winter. The matter of the trails is expected to be discussed further at the public hearing to see what the neighbourhood thinks.
Coun. O’Reilly excused himself from the meeting and vote because a company he is involved with has interest in the future redevelopment of the land.
Councillor Sarai, who is the president of the Kamloops Airport Authority Society, councillor Karpuk and mayor Hamer-Jackson said they had all sought legal advice before participating in this week’s meeting and were cleared to participate.
