The City of Kelowna will host a public open house to take input on this year’s capital projects and proposed changes to Development Cost Charges (DCC).

The open house, set for Mar. 30, will welcome residents to review information and ask questions from 3 – 5:30 p.m. at the Kelowna branch of the Okanagan Regional Library on Ellis Street.

Photo Credit: KelownaNow.The Library Parkade under construction in 2015.“The open house will give residents an opportunity to see what improvements and construction projects are planned in their neighbourhoods this year,” said Alan Newcombe, Infrastructure Divisional Director, in a statement. “It will also give them time to consider alternate routes during construction periods.”

The annual capital delivery plan details more than $190 million in projects the City plans to undertake this year, which includes both upgrades and new infrastructure projects.

About $45 million is planned to be invested in new projects and $146 million will be for projects being continued from 2015, including the airport and the Kelowna Police Services building.

Some of the major new projects will include a soccer field expansion at Rutland Centennial Park, a new roundabout at the intersection of Valley and Cross roads and infrastructure improvements along Ethel Street and Bernard Avenue.  

The Memorial and Library Parkade projects will both be carried over into this year.

The DCC Bylaw will also be reviewed at the open house. The bylaw charges developers to offset some of the infrastructure costs which need to be spent because of new development.

In order to service growth, the City is hoping to increase the charge, which hasn’t been approved in 2011.

The DCCs are expected to increase between four and 14 per cent, depending on city sector.

The charges, combined with taxpayer money, help fund roads, water mains, sewers, drainage and parkland acquisition.

For more information on this year’s projects and construction schedules, visit the City of Kelowna website.