The Ponds neighborhood in Kelowna, B.C.’s Upper Mission has been experiencing a building boom for several years. The neighborhood has been following a master planned community, which has included the development of a shopping center. With the opening of a Save-On-Foods store, residents in the area have access to more amenities. In addition to the new shopping center, the area has seen improvements in infrastructure with the construction of South Perimeter Way, a road connecting the Ponds to the Crawford neighborhood and a new middle school, Canyon Falls Middle School, opening in 2019.
City councillor Mohini Singh acknowledged the challenge of balancing the need for home construction with the concerns of too much development too quickly. The city’s population has grown to 160,000, and with more people moving in, development is inevitable. However, the city is trying to manage the growth in a way that benefits the community as a whole. The Mission Village shopping center is expected to add more tenants, including a dental clinic, liquor store, and coffee shop, which will provide additional amenities to residents and reduce traffic congestion as they will no longer need to drive to other areas to access certain services.
The development in the Ponds neighborhood is nearing its buildout limit, with Thompson Flats sitting above it. The city originally planned to construct more homes in Thompson Flats, but after analyzing the potential impact on traffic and infrastructure, the city decided not to proceed with the additional development. However, with Kelowna’s growth showing no signs of slowing down, the city may have to revisit the issue of developing Thompson Flats in the future. The city will continue to evaluate new development applications but will have to consider the challenges of adding more homes than initially planned.
Overall, the rapid growth in the Ponds neighborhood has brought about positive changes for residents, including new amenities, improved infrastructure, and a new middle school. The city is working to manage this growth responsibly, balancing the need for development with the concerns of the community. As more tenants are added to the Mission Village shopping center and the area continues to develop, the city will need to carefully consider the implications of further development in the Upper Mission area. City officials are prepared to review new development applications but will need to address the challenges of adding more homes than originally planned to ensure the sustainable growth of the community.
