Pickleballers oppose zoning
Castanet Dec 30, 2025
Open letter to Kelowna’s mayor and city councillors,
I and many pickleball players do not support a zoning change in the city’s 2040 Official Community Plan for 480 Penno Road (Kelowna Springs Golf Course) from recreational to any other zoning, especially industrial.
There are many empty buildings in Kelowna where we can play and share with others. We previously played at the Kelowna Curling Club when the building was not in use, which worked well.
The playing spaces include.
• Trinity Church (4)
• Parkinson Recreation Centre (24)
• DeHart Park (4)
• Valley Road (9)
• Rutland Recreation Centre (4)
• Blair Pond Park
• Quilchena Park
– Edith Gay Park
• Gerstmar Park
• Glenmore Recreation Park
• High Road and Mountain
• Knox Mountain Park
• Cross Glen Park
• Global Fitness & Racquet Centre
• New locations coming up weekly
According to a (June 09) 2040 Official Community Plan report, there is a 5.6% vacancy for Industrial and it is rising. So why is this application being considered?
Most pickleballers do not support the (change at) 480 Penno Road. It would have severe consequences for the neighbouring farmers and everyone living along Mill Creek.
Nothing is certain with the developer. The developer (Dencity) may supply the land and then (the city) would have to pay for construction of a (pickleball) building. Dencity’s offer is not free. The association already allocates all the money it receives from their members.
The pickleball association did not go to Dencity (to ask for a pickleball facility), Dencity went to it for its endorsement as a large group. Most of the players do not support this development on this land. Players from West Kelowna say 480 Penno Road is too far to travel.
Do not destroy this green space in the hope of extra pickleball courts. Dencity may never build them. We have 5.6% industrial vacancy now and a supply for 36 to 56 years.
Pickleball can be played anywhere. It is not too late to say no to the developer.
Graham Wolfe, Kelowna
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/591727/Pickleballers-oppose-zoning
Industrial land not needed
Castanet Dec 30, 2025
Re: Industrial land needs in Kelowna
Open letter Kelowna’s mayor and city councillors
I do not support any type of zoning change to 480 Penno Road (Kelowna Springs Golf Course) from recreational to any other zoning, especially Industrial.
I read two separate reports, one from the City of Kelowna and one from the Regional District of Central Okanagan. They both clearly indicate there is an industrial land surplus of 5.6% and rising, with a 36 to 56 year supply
Maybe the two reports should be sent to all residents of Kelowna to ask them if they approve of destroying a very important parcel of land in a floodplain for industrial land we do not need. The silty loam soil land serves as a sponge for millions of gallons of water at the head of Mill Creek and releases it slowly into the creek.
My question is, why does (council) have to spend time on such an application from the developer. If it goes to a public hearing to ask the residents of Kelowna for a second time what they think, I do not think the Kelowna residents are going to appreciate this.
Please do what you told us you were going to do and that is save this green space for all the environmental benefits it offers.
Martha Hodges, Kelowna
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/591722/Industrial-land-not-needed
Should have bought all land
Castanet Dec 11, 2025 Story: 588972
Re. Future of Kelowna Springs Golf Course
Allowing the development of (some of) the land to become industrial could alter the floodplain significantly. That would be detrimental to existing landowners, farms surrounding that land and animal habitat.
I have lived in Kelowna since 2012 and started golfing in 2014. I feel that losing a great 18-hole, walkable golf course is crushing to many local residents as well as the many tourists who visit our great city.
There are few affordable courses that are great for golfers of all levels. Reducing it to a nine-hole course and turning the remainder into industrial use should not have even be a consideration.
There is an abundance of industrial land available in Kelowna already, so giving up a wonderful green space would be a huge loss for its users. Besides golf, the land offers a home to many types of birds, waterfowl, turtles and mature trees.
I feel a better direction the city should have taken, was to purchase all the land or trade other industrial land for all of it.
I believe the developer was caught up in a situation involving the former city council. (The developer), Dencity, should step up to the plate, work harder with the new council and come to an agreement that would be amenable to all.
I voted for the current mayor and other members of council because they said they were going to save the Kelowna Springs Golf Course. It’s time to step up and do what they said they would do when they were voted in. Save all of the land at 480 Penno Road, not just a part of it.
Darcy Klassen
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/588972/Should-have-bought-all-land
KelownaNow Dec 1, 2025 Randy Brown
Your Voice: Future generations will not praise the destruction of a beautiful Kelowna golf course
Dear Mayor and Council,
My name is Randy Brown, I live in Kelowna, and I enjoy golfing, hiking, and many other outdoor activities. I am writing to you to explain why it is a terrible mistake to allow the beautiful, uniquely walkable, family-friendly Kelowna Springs 18-hole course to be turned into a 9-hole golf course plus some industrial land.
I spoke at the public meeting a couple of years ago when Council voted to reverse the changes that they had previously made to the Official Community Plan by returning the Kelowna Springs area of Kelowna back to Recreational from Industrial on the OCP. The people of Kelowna spoke up loudly and in numbers on this idea, and Council listened.
There are many reasons that changing part of the 480 Penno Road land from a golf course into industrial land is a horrifically bad idea, and Council is fully aware of them. I will focus on the two main reasons that I believe Council should not allow this to happen.
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Photo credit: Kelowna Springs
First, this land is invaluable as a wetland, and green space, and is singularly ill-suited for use as industrial land. The water springs freely out of the land to naturally water the golf course, and that will not change if the land that accepts all that water is turned into industrial land. Where will all that water go? How will it be dealt with? It will be a huge problem that does not need to be created. It all works beautifully right now as it is. Leave it alone.
Second, the city will be losing a beautiful, uniquely walkable, 18-hole golf course. We are already losing Michaelbrook and Shadow Ridge, so turning Kelowna Springs into a 9-hole golf course does absolutely nothing for the golf community. We cannot think that future generations will praise the idea of destroying a beautiful, walkable 18-hole golf course right in the heart of the city so that we can stuff a bit of industrial land in its place. Future generations will be furious that Council was so inconceivably shortsighted that they allowed this to happen. It really does boggle the mind that this idea is even being considered, let alone being championed by Council.
Council, please do not give in to the developers. Let them know that this golf course is never going to be turned into industrial land. Please save this invaluable, beautiful, walkable, perfectly functional golf course for future generations, as you know in your hearts that you should!
Thank you very much,
Randy Brown
Kelowna
KelownaNow Dec 1, 2025 by David Buckna
Why doesn’t Kelowna have even 1 city-owned and managed golf course?
During the second term of Colin Basran’s Kelowna mayoralty, beginning Nov. 5, 2018:
1. Who authorized and directed city staff to alter the 2040 OCP map to show Kelowna Springs Golf Course (KSGC) would be designated “future industrial”?
2. Which members of the Basran council were unaware the map showed the industrial designation before they signed off on it?
3. Why was this area of the map altered in the first place?
On Dec. 3, 2024 a statement from Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas read, in part: “With this in mind, this council directed city staff to explore all options for the city to acquire the property [KSGC, 480 Penno Road] from Denciti Development Corp to protect it for recreational use.”
Note: “explore all options”.
Further on: “We want to be clear, the property in question is privately owned by Denciti Development Corp, who is currently not a willing vendor.” Read: https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/Not_a_willing_vendor_Dyas_says_the_city_wasn_t_successful_in_purchasing_Kelowna_Springs/
Good grief! Who cares if Denciti was not a willing vendor? It is well-documented that KSGC is a natural flood management area, bordered by the ALR, that protects city infrastructure.
Good governance refers to a municipal government that runs effectively, transparently, and accountably to meet the needs of residents, so it’s a no-brainer KSGC should have already been expropriated for the public good.
The Nov. 14, 2025 news release headline “City secures future of Kelowna Springs Golf Course through land exchange agreement”
https://www.kelowna.ca/our-community/news-events/news/city-secures-future-kelowna-springs-golf-course-through-land-exchange-agreement is highly misleading. It’s only when a person reads the second and third paragraphs that one learns the City is attempting to secure the future of only nine of KSGC’s eighteen holes.
A “fait accompli” is defined as something that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.
The start of a Nov. 22 video interview with Mayor Dyas was framed as a fait accompli between the City and Denciti. The reporter begins the interview: “The City has engaged in a land swap with Denciti Development, where the City will take over the actual golf course property.”
“Will take over” indicates future action, and what did he mean by “actual” golf course?
It is not a fait accompli. First there would have to be a Public Hearing.
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Photo credit: City of Kelowna
From the Dyas interview: “Collectively as a council through a motion that councillor [Luke] Stack moved forward, we looked at moving it [KSGC] back to recreational, so it was allocated as recreational property.”
Later Dyas said: “Denciti started to advocate alongside with pickleballers to see whether there would be an opportunity to establish a facility for them there.”
The city is building pickleball courts at new parks. For example, there are four courts at the new DeHart Park.
The new Parkinson Rec Centre is planned to feature 24 new outdoor pickleball courts.
4. Will some or all of them be covered in the fall and winter so pickleballers can play 12 months a year?
5. In any of the city’s discussions with Denciti, did Mayor Dyas or staff inform Denciti officials that one of the city’s options is expropriation?
From “General local government expropriation powers” (Last updated on January 9, 2023):
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/governments/local-governments/planning-land-use/asset-acquisition-disposal/expropriation-powers “Expropriation powers allow local governments to purchase property at market value without the consent of the owner.”
Dyas: “We recognize the importance of that facility [KSGC] within the community as a recreational facility and the golf course that was there, and so there was discussion back and forth…”
The golf course that “was” there? Dyas uses the past tense.
Shadow Ridge Golf Course is owned by the city but is managed by a contractor. The land is destined to be used for the development of the Kelowna airport; Michaelbrook Golf Course has been purchased by the city but is destined for baseball diamonds.
Vancouver has six municipal (city-owned and managed) golf courses and Calgary has seven. Even smaller cities such as Prince Albert, SK have a 18-hole championship municipal golf course. (cookegolf.ca).
6. So why doesn’t Kelowna have even one city-owned and managed golf course?
Read: “Tom Dyas will fight to save Kelowna Springs” (July 26, 2022) at https://www.tomdyas.com/news/tom-dyas-will-fight-to-save-kelowna-springs
At the time, Dyas didn’t promise to fight to save only half the course.
For more information:
Your Voice: The City of Kelowna could expropriate Kelowna Springs at fair market value (Dec 5, 2024)
Your Voice: City of Kelowna justified in expropriating Kelowna Springs if deal can’t be reached (Dec. 9, 2024)
https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Your_Voice/Your_Voice_City_of_Kelowna_justified_in_expropriating_Kelowna_Springs_if_deal_can_t_be_reached/
Your Voice: City of Kelowna staff are arrogant to tell residents to be content with half a golf course (Apr 14, 2025)
Your Voice: Did Kelowna Council do everything it could to buy Kelowna Springs? (May 7, 2025)
David Buckna
Kelowna
Your Voice posted Dec 1, 2025 @ 01:30pm by Joe Simpson
Your Voice: Has Kelowna council acted in our best interests with Kelowna Springs?
KelownaNow Dec 1, 2025
Kelowna Springs Golf Course – Has Mayor Dyas and Council acted in the best interest of the Citizens of Kelowna? You be the Judge !
Why is this land important?
The Kelowna Springs Golf Course (KSGC) area was previously agricultural land and it occupies approximately 43 hectares (106 ac). It is bordered on the north, east, south, and the northern half of the western boundary, by agricultural land. The agricultural land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve. The golf course is green space and it offers a buffer to the surrounding agricultural land.
The land to the west of the golf course is wetland (Simpson’s Pond) and being designated as a wetland requires special consideration because it is environmentally sensitive. Groundwater flows down hill from the upland to the east, under the agricultural land along the eastern boundary as well as the agricultural land to the north and south, under the golf course and to the wetland. There is a continuous underground water flow system under all of this land.
The KSGC includes seven ponds that provide wildlife habitat and water to irrigate the golf course so it is a closed system, not requiring municipal water to irrigate it.
History:
In 2021 Senior City Staff was approached by Ian Robertson requesting that the Future Land Use in the 2040 Official Community Plan be changed from Private Recreational to Industrial. This was due no doubt to Robertson obviously wishing to sell this golf course and making the land Industrial which would open up more opportunities to sell. City Council in its’ wisdom voted to go ahead with this change of Future Land Use to Industrial.
On July 26, 2022 Tom Dyas put out a pre-election statement to the public announcing that he would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course if elected. Quote “Residents have told me that they expect their next mayor to fight to save Kelowna Springs, and that’s what I will do,” he explained.
Dyas said Kelowna can’t afford to keep losing golf courses and cited the loss of Central Park Golf Club and Fairview Golf Course to development as previous examples of this happening.
He also noted that Shadow Ridge Golf Club will soon be lost to an inevitable airport extension, while Michaelbrook could one day become baseball fields.
Subsequently in February 2023 Denciti Development Corp announced they purchased Kelowna Springs Golf Course.
In June 2023, the present City Council including the newly elected Mayor Dyas, after a Public Hearing, changed the Future Land Use designation back to Private Recreational, due to the hue and cry from the Citizens of Kelowna, to reflect Community interests and preserve recreational activities.
On December 3rd, 2024 Mayor Dyas provided an update on this property owned by Denciti Development Corp. Mayor Dyas went on to state that substantial feedback was received by the public who value KSGC and its positive contributions to the City. He stated that with this in mind, he directed City Staff to explore all options for the City to acquire the property from Denciti Development Corp. to protect it for Recreational use. Apparently despite their best efforts, the City was unable to reach an agreement as Denciti were “unwilling vendors.”
Coincidentally 2 days later on December 5th, 2024 Denciti Development Corp provided a press release indicating that the property would now be developed to become Industrial along with keeping a 9 hole golf course and Pickleball Courts.
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Photo credit: Kelowna Springs
On November 14, 2025, the City released a press release detailing an arrangement reached with Denciti where it was structured as a land swap rather than an outright purchase ! A move Mayor Tom Dyas stated was the “best deal possible” to preserve the course’s long-term viability as per the following terms:
- City Acquisition: The city will acquire approximately 60 acres of land at 480 Penno Rd., which includes the existing nine-hole golf course, water features, and open space.
- Developer Acquisition: In exchange, Denciti Development Corp. will receive 9.1 acres of city-owned industrial land at 3199 Hollywood Rd. North.
- Future Operations: The city plans to own the course and lease it to the existing operator who successfully operated it as a nine-hole course during the 2025 season.
- Conditions and Timeline: The agreement is subject to several conditions, including the city council’s decision on Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments and rezoning applications for Denciti’s remaining adjacent land. If all conditions are met, the land transfer to the city is expected to finalize on March 30, 2026.
KNOWN FACTS
After Mayor Dyas stated on Dec 3rd, 2024 that Denciti were unwilling vendors I spoke to City councillors and learned that there was never an offer apparently made to purchase this golf course. So why did the Mayor say they did everything they could ?
Furthermore, when interviewed on November 22, 2025 Dyas said that to buy all of this property would be cost prohibitive to the City as Denciti bought the property as Industrial.
This statement is ridiculous if you ask me for the following reasons:
-The City were the ones to change the Future Land Use from Private Recreational to Industrial initially so they started this terrible fiasco themselves.
-The City holds the trump card as they could and should withhold rezoning this property which would prevent Industrialization happening. This in turn will encourage the developer to be willing vendors as they do not want their investors sitting on vacant property. Remember the city does not own the property therefore if not used then no big deal and the land remains unchanged.
It appears that Dyas couldn’t wait should the land sit unused until as Denciti stated that in the future the rezoning occurs in their favor. It appears that Dyas is interested in tax dollars in the City coffers only.
Dyas again reiterated that he recognizes the importance of the golf course! Really ? What about the many ponds and wetland area that would be paved over for Industrialization? Flooding to occur in neighbouring farm lands ! Potential for many law suits!
Remember that Dyas said he’d fight to preserve Kelowna Springs Golf Course from becoming Industrial ?
Well, interesting enough in his pre-election web site in June 2022 he lamented about 5 local golf courses becoming lost. One of these was Michaelbrook Golf Course that was on the City’s Future Land Use with the 2024 Official Community Plan.
Then on January 17th, 2025 Michaelbrook is purchased by the City for 8.37 Million and Dyas indicated that in 10-15 years this property would most likely become baseball diamonds.
It seems peculiar that Dyas made this pre-election comment then the City buys this property from a private owner then he restates the idea it would later be transformed to baseball fields! I had previously thought that the City owned Michaelbrook as it had been on the Future Land Use OCP 2040.
Mayor Dyas shows his real self here because if he wanted existing golf courses to remain as golf courses why go out and buy Michaelbrook instead of it being left as a golf course.
I believe that it is evident that Dyas could care less about Kelowna Springs or any other golf course where money is involved.
CITY COULDN’T AFFORD TO PURCHASE THE TOTAL GOLF COURSE DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DOLLARS THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED ?
REALLY ? YOU BE THE JUDGE?
FACT:
The City has an annual surplus of $137 million, an accumulated surplus of $2.5 Billion and a Parks budget of $358 Million.
PAST PROJECTS WITH ENORMOUS OVER EXPENDITURES:
Parkinson Recreation Center Building: April 14, 2025
Describing the project as one that may well become a “legacy” of the current city council, Kelowna councillors moved the $242.3 million plan to build a new Parkinson Recreation Centre in the city a major step closer to construction Monday by approving a development permit for the project.
NOTE: a year earlier an International award winning New Westminster Rec Centre and another one in Toronto both were built for approximately $140 million less than Kelowna is going to pay ! Why ? And how come no public consensus to proceed with a project of that magnitude?
It’s a Legacy all right but one that is of ineptness and one that says Dyas and Council do as they want and where money seems to be no object as it’s the taxpayers money ! Lately every project Dyas undertakes he refers to them as legacies. It appears he has taken on politics 101 from our neighbour to the south referencing everything as legacies!
Other ridiculous spending is the Dog Park costing over 1 million dollars, the Truswell property for $18 Million in Dec 2023 for 1.8 acres.
Unfortunately the list goes on !
So how is it that the City can’t cough up the necessary funds to buy the entire golf course? What sayeth Council now?
Garry Fawley on November 20th, 2025 when holding their information session at the golf course stated in conversation that Denciti are in fact willing to negotiate a Sale ! What sayeth Council now ?
Dyas when recently interviewed said he couldn’t speak for the other Councilors as to how they’d vote for any change in Rezoning later.
Wake up and smell the roses people ! They have all or mostly all agreed to Rezone and have the sale go through on that date in March 2026!
The Mayor and council do whatever they wish with further examples such as the UBC fiasco causing damage to nearby buildings. The City was advised of the potential damage and possible law suits but allowed it to go ahead. Sure enough the City was one of the parties sued.
Furthermore, when it comes to tall building projects which city planning regularly approve these projects with a significant number of variances that goes against the OCP 2040 provision as well as the zoning by-law 12375, zoning Bylaw that, supposedly, governs land use and the form, siting, height, density of all development within the City boundaries
The variances are put forward by city planning and systematically approved by the city councillors. The City seems to violate these at will !
CONCLUSIONS:
Dyas and Council have failed the citizens of Kelowna miserably in not purchasing the whole property as a Municipal Golf Course which would be a money making proposition. Hopefully Council will use common sense and keep Kelowna springs an 18 hole golf course !
The Mayor and Council have the best jobs I’d say ! They listen to residents and utter some smoke and mirrors comments then do the opposite with no repercussions. With all the money that this City has spent needlessly, such as the Parkinson Rec Centre, if it were private enterprise the whole lot would be fired.
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Simpson
Kelowna
Proposed Kelowna land deal would trade city industrial lot for nine-hole golf course
Author of the article:By David Carrigg Vancouver Sun Nov 30 2025
The Kelowna Springs Golf Course was sold in 2022, shortly after city council approved the 2040 official community plan that flagged the site for possible industrial use.
City of Kelowna staff want to swap land with a B.C. developer, trading a city-owned industrial lot to get half of the Kelowna Springs Golf Course.
Under the proposed deal, developer Denciti would be allowed to turn its remaining half of the golf course into an industrial park, pickleball arena and park.
The Kelowna Springs Golf Course was sold in 2022, shortly after city council approved the 2040 official community plan that flagged the site for possible industrial use.
In the lead-up to the October 2022 municipal election, current Mayor Tom Dyas campaigned to save the course from industrial development, saying he “would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from being turned into warehouses.”
The following year council voted to change the future land use for the golf course back to private recreational, while encouraging Denciti to submit a development permit application for the land. In May 2025, the developer proposed dividing the site in two, with half becoming an industrial park, pickleball arena and parkland, while the remainder would be a nine-hole golf course.
On Nov. 14 the city announced the proposed land swap, that was negotiated in private between city staff and the developer.
Under the proposal would see the city transfer 3.7 hectares of industrial land, almost four city block in size, in northeast Kelowna to Denciti in exchange for a 24-hectare portion of the 43-hectare Kelowna Springs Golf Course that the city would keep as a nine-hole course.
Denciti’s remaining 18.5 hectares would be turned into the industrial park, park and pickleball arena.
The golf course has been operating since 1990, when the site was bought for $1.2 million according to government records. It has been an 18-hole course since then, except for last year when Denciti shuttered the back nine holes.
Resident Alexandra Martin, who lives on the eastern border of the site, is leading a group of residents with concerns about the deal and its impact on flooding.
“There is a group of concerned citizens and that group has been growing lately as more people become aware of this situation,” said Martin. “Our fear is that any development in this area is going to completely alter the floodplain as well as creating more compression areas where the water will need to bubble up.”
She said there are no public records of the staff and developer meetings around the land swap nor a publicly available valuation of the city’s industrial site at 3199 Hollywood Road North.
The golf course property is assessed at $5.329 million and is owned by 480 Penno Road Ltd.
Denciti CEO Garry Fawley said the proposed plan “addresses many of the concerns that we have heard from the Kelowna community.”
“All proposed infrastructure at 480 Penno Road will be designed to industry best practices and comply fully with the City of Kelowna’s development bylaws.”
Derek Edstrom, Kelowna’s divisional director for partnerships and investments, said the proposed land swap is subject to several conditions and approvals before the exchange can take place early next year. It will require an amendment to Kelowna’s official community plan to allow for rezoning of the industrial park and is expected to generate $4 million in development cost charges.
The city is considering operating the new pickleball facility.
City should’ve expropriated
Castanet Nov 28, 2025 Story: 586423
Re: Mayor says city got best deal possible to preserve Kelowna Springs golf course ( Castanet, Nov. 22)
On Dec. 3, 2024, a statement from Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas read, in part: “We recognize the importance of recreation to the well-being of our citizens and the role this property [Kelowna Springs Golf Course] has played in bringing people together. With this in mind, this council directed city staff to explore all options for the city to acquire the property from Denciti Development Corp to protect it for recreational use.”
Explored “all” options?
The statement continued: “Despite our best efforts, the city was unable to reach an agreement with the property owner for acquisition. We want to be clear, the property in question is privately owned by Denciti Development Corp, who is currently not a willing vendor.”
Good grief! Who cares if Denciti was a willing vendor or not? It is well-documented that KSGC is a natural flood management area, bordered by the ALR, that protects city infrastructure. This is a prime reason for the city to expropriate KSG, for the public good.
Fast forward to a Nov. 14, 2025 city news release headlined: “City secures future of Kelowna Springs Golf Course through land exchange agreement,” which was highly misleading.
It’s only when a person reads the second and third paragraphs that they learn the city attempted to secure the future of only nine of the 18 holes of KSGC.
A “fait accompli” is defined as something that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.
The start of the Nov. 22 Castanet interview with Dyas was framed as a fait accompli between the city and Denciti Development Corp. Why? It is not a fait accompli. First there would have to be a public hearing on the matter.
Reporter Wayne Moore asked, “The city has engaged in a land swap with Denciti Development, where the city will take over the actual golf course property.”
“Will take over” indicates future action and what does he mean by “actual” golf course?
“How did that come about?” Moore asked.
“Through discussion,” replied Dyas. “When we came into office [Oct. 2022] through the [2040] OCP that property had been transferred from recreational into industrial. Collectively as a council, through a motion that Coun. (Luke) Stack moved forward, we looked at moving it back to recreational, so it was allocated as recreational property.”
Dyas added: “Denciti started to advocate alongside with pickleballers to see whether there would be an opportunity to establish a facility for them there.”
My understanding is the city is building pickleball courts at new parks. There are four courts at the new DeHart Park and the new Parkinson Recreation Centre is planned to feature 24 outdoor courts. Will some or all of them be covered in the fall and winter so pickleballers can play 12 months a year?
In any of the city’s 2024 and 2025 discussions with Denciti Development, did the mayor or city staff inform Denciti officials one of the city’s options is expropriation?
During the time former mayor Colin Basran led council, who authorized and directed city staff to alter the map to show KSGC would be designated “future industrial”? Also, which members of that council were unaware the map showed the industrial designation before they signed off on it? Why was the area of the map altered in the first place?
In the interview Dyas said: “We recognize the importance of that facility (KSGC) within the community as a recreational facility and the golf course that was there, and so there was discussion back and forth…”
The golf course that was there? Dyas uses the past tense.
Local golfer Don Henderson researched the more expensive courses around North America and in the U.K and found some starting at $20,000 for initiation fees and rising steadily up to $500K. He also found not one of those courses were nine holes.
Shadow Ridge Golf Course is owned by the city but is managed by a contractor. The land is destined to be used for the development of the Kelowna airport. Michaelbrook Golf Course was recently purchased by the city but is destined to be baseball diamonds.
Vancouver has six city-owned and managed golf courses, three of which are 18-hole courses. Calgary has seven municipal golf courses, three of which are 18-holes courses. Even moderate-sized cities, such as Prince Albert, SK (population 38,000), have 18-hole championship municipal golf courses.
So why doesn’t Kelowna have even one city-owned and managed municipal golf course?
David Buckna, Kelowna
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/586423/City-should-ve-expropriated
City move ‘unanticipated’
Castanet – Nov 25, 2025 / Story: 585864
Re. Mayor says city got best deal possible to preserve Kelowna Springs golf course (Castanet, Nov. 22)
Open letter to Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas and city councillors,
The proposed land transfer and future industrial development at Kelowna Springs Golf Club, as explained by Mayor Tom Dyas to Castanet on Friday, Nov. 22 was not anticipated, as this action solicited industrial development without public input.
The majority of letters to city council and during at the last public zoning meeting clearly indicated that the Kelowna residents and adjacent farmers wanted eighteen-hole golf course with no industrial development, with the golf course and its ecosystem remaining intact. A nine-hole golf course with industrial development was not an option.
There is no rationalization to zone additional industrial land in Kelowna. A city report shows that 34% of industrial zone land amounting to approximately 1,290 acres is vacant. This proposed industrial development by (developer) Denciti is good and can easily be accommodated within existing industrial zoned lands. This proposed development thus provides no net additional benefits to Kelowna that can not be had if built within the existing vacant industrial zones.
Industrial developments on the golf course site negatively impact the inclusive economic, social, health and environmental objectives of the community. It is thus requested that the council consider buying or swooping all the 18-hole golf course property. No industrial development should be supported here. Leaving the land even undeveloped is a better option than having it as industrial because having industrial development will only ruin the sensitive natural ecosystem, given the land:
• Acts as a flood storage and water drainage basin that stores a very large amount of water. Loss of this large water containment area would have very serious flooding consequences down and upstream that would affect the life and health of people and (lead to the) damage and loss of property. This storage area helps calm Mill Creek for hours as it fills with flood water.
• Uncontrolled flood water would affect the ground water quality as well as the quality of water on, near and downstream and cause soil erosion, which could have a negative impact on human, animal, plant and fish health. Large volumes of uncontrolled water entering the stream faster and at higher levels could flood adjacent farmlands and transportation, freight traffic and emergency routes, which could disrupt business and industries.
• The grass and treed areas absorb many tons of carbon dioxide annually. The areas and the ponds help resiliency to climate change impacts. Further, the ecosystem protects the animals, birds, plant, and fish life within the course as well downstream.
Amar Chadha
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/585864/City-move-unanticipated-
KelownaNow Oct 31, 2025 Susan Ames
Let’s attract more tourists to Kelowna with a municipal golf course
The city of Kelowna is becoming a powerhouse. The city just announced a $2.82 billion 10-year capital plan to power roads, rec centres, and airport growth (we hope not onto the agricultural land to the east), to name a few things. This works out to $319 million this year! The city just purchased 3 properties downtown for $27.8 million, one site planned for a hotel near the lake. This will be great for tourists and businesses. The city purchased the Michael Brook golf course last year for baseball diamonds so that should bring in more tournaments, and the city has just finished a dog run downtown for over $1 million which is rather unique to meet the needs of the dog owners in the area.
This shows that the city cares about the future of Kelowna and with tourism comes growth and prosperity. The development of the Parkinson Rec Centre is a big-ticket item with a project price in the order of $242 million. That should also serve more tournaments, as well as the public. With this vision, it would be great if the city also purchased the Kelowna Springs Golf Course as a municipal golf course. Municipal golf courses (golf courses owned and operated by the city) are great profit makers. These provide reasonably priced golf and Kelowna Springs is totally walkable and doesn’t use city water for irrigation.
This would be a great tourist attraction as the Okanagan is a golf mecca and the tourists would find some affordable golf and it would be good for the Kelowna citizens, too.
After all, Kelowna Springs Golf Course was designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect Les Furber and the course has garnered accolades over the last 30 years. It has been recognized as the second best Readers’ Choice golf courses in Kelowna by Okanagan Life Magazine, for example. Kelowna is known for this course.
However, a developer has an application to convert half of the golf course to industrial which seems so unnecessary for this gem especially when the recent reports indicate that the city already has 1290 acres (522 ha) of vacant industrial land which represents 36 to 56 years supply so we don’t need to add more. Mayor Dyas said he would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from warehouses and the council has already rejected industrial use on this property.
This is an opportunity to add to the pool of city assets for tourism and the residents.
The city does recognize the value of outdoor space as stated by Keith Pinkoski, Senior Project Landscape Architect who referred to “Kelowna’s commitment to providing high-quality outdoor environments that support residents’ physical and mental health and nurture a sense of belonging for everyone in the city.”
Mayor Dyas said: “As Kelowna continues to grow, our priority is creating public spaces that make daily life better for residents”.
It is great the city recognizes that such a growing city as Kelowna, needs more recreational spaces. Let the mayor and council know that saving such a golf course to become a municipal course will be a long-term, valuable asset providing affordability that is good for tourism, for business, and for residents now and in the future. Who knows, affordable golf for families could produce Canada’s next professional golfer.
Why not? Let’s give everyone a chance and opportunity. Let’s attract more tourists! Such a growing and attractive city needs at least one municipal golf course and this is the last opportunity to achieve this.
Go! Kelowna! Go!
Susan Ames
Kelowna
KelownaNow Oct 27, 2025 by Don Henderson
Your Voice: City of Kelowna management treat frontline workers like mere labourers
Remember who pays the piper
How easily people ignore those who butter their bread, pay for their big house and pay to send their kids to good schools and university.
The foundation of the Kelowna economy are frontline workers, in jobs like hospitality, retail, food industry, nursing, construction, small business, auto repair, agriculture, as well as low income workers, etc, yet employees at city hall, particularly senior management who earn $240-340,000 per year continue to treat them as mere labourers, unworthy of real, life-changing amenities in town. The above mentioned hard workers and their families deserve priority attention when it comes to spending at city hall. What if they all had rotating strikes for 6 months?
We see money pouring out of city hall on surprise, whimsical projects, pushing high-end, expensive projects for high-profile events and amenities for the well heeled and out-of-towners. Imagine spending over $1 million for a dog run, borrowing $28 million to buyout a deadbeat developer, getting them off the hook finding a buyer of a property through normal market channels. Eighteen million for a house here, millions for other management whims, with no public consultation.
And here we have a magnificent year-round recreational property at Kelowna Springs GC which would provide all the benefits cities like Vancouver, Burnaby, and Calgary bend over backwards to provide to their communities, integrating ethnic communities, bringing families together for an inexpensive outdoor golf experience in TOWN, entertaining youngsters, charging nominal fees for golf and food. You are happily stacking us into high rises and relying on the lake and mountains to entertain us.
And unlike many other city projects, the money borrowed would be repaid through the proven profitability of these municipal golf courses, run by city personnel as in Vancouver, with a passion for golf and a compassion and respect for working-class people.
Instead, management are pushing to have the property developed with warehouses.
The city has enough tools to buy/expropriate this property, or keep it perpetually undeveloped recreational whether the buyer agrees or not. And please mayor and councillors don’t say staff says we can’t, because with our power we can, so tell them to step aside.
Don Henderson
Kelowna
KelownaNow posted Oct 2, 2025 @ 02:30pm by Susan Ames
Now Kelowna’s got too much industrial land, why pave over a golf course?
The reason the Kelowna city staff in 2021 and 2022 stated they supported the industrial use of Kelowna Springs Golf Course was because there was a shortage of industrial land. How times have changed. Our economy is in a bit of a slump. According to the Kelowna Long Range Planning Report, June 2025
* Building permits for new homes has slowed compared to recent years
* Office vacancy rates continue to rise reaching 8.8%
* Industrial vacancy has increased from 0.9% in 2021 to 5.6% in 2025
In fact, there are 522 ha (1,290 ac) of vacant industrial land in Kelowna which equates to between 36 and 56 years supply (April 2025) (https://www.rdco.com/en/business-and-land-use/resources/Documents/Regional-Employment-Lands-Inventory-Report-February-2025.pdf).
In 2023, with a public outcry, Kelowna council voted 8:1, including Mayor Dyas, to return the land use designation back to Private Recreational. However, the developer is back with the same project.
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Photo credit: Kelowna Springs Golf Course
The new information of 36 to 56 years supply of existing vacant industrial land takes away any justification for paving over roughly half of KSGC. Why would we pave over 55 ac of a turnkey golf course when there is already 1,290 ac of vacant industrial land? KSGC is subject to flooding so it is a natural flood management area and it is bordered by the ALR.
This is important greenspace and this would be a great, enduring community asset if the city bought it from the developer. This is a walkable golf course that has been operating seamlessly with the surrounding agricultural land for over 30 years.
It is unique as it is a golf course that doesn’t use city water for irrigation. Let’s keep it this way.
With 36 to 56 years of supply of vacant industrial land, we better use that instead of creating more as who knows what our world will be like and what our economy will be like 35 to 55 years from now.
Susan Ames
Kelowna
KelownaNow Jul 30, 2025 @ 01:30pm by Don Henderson
Frontline workers deserve to play at a City-owned Kelowna Springs Golf Course
An incident in the USA prompted some reflection on a serious issue in Kelowna.
In the state of Missouri, the Republican-controlled legislature just blocked a bill that would have set the minimum wage at $15, and granted paid sick leave. Why, because to them it would destroy business, and discourage new business in the state.
It doesn’t matter that CEOs make 200 times more than the average worker (300 times in the US), or that owners are worth up to $300 billion, it is the front line worker, the grinder, the builder, the foundation of a business, who is generally portrayed as a burden when it comes to improving, and even maintaining their standard of living.
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Photo credit: Kelowna Springs Golf Course
Now look at Kelowna Springs Golf Club. This course should be owned by the city, providing all the benefits to residents of modest means and their families that our wealthier co-citizens enjoy at their country clubs. But wealthy Kelowna staff say no, this would be standing in the way of business development, in the way of warehouses. Again, the same people as above are being told they are negatively impacting business progress.
Mayor Dyas saw the need, after the loss of several affordable courses in town, and promised to save Kelowna Springs during his mayoral campaign. He now seems to be hedging.
Whether there is a surplus of industrial land in Kelowna (there is) or not, this issue is about showing respect to local front line workers and their families. We need to follow the example of Vancouver-owned and profitably operated municipal golf courses like Fraserview (one of six); modest green fees, negligible fees for kids, family rates, and modest food prices (like the $6.50 all day full breakfast), where the folks who are the backbone of our society can regularly enjoy a wonderful family experience.
Don Henderson
Kelowna
Save Kelowna Springs Petition
As many of you are aware, in 2023 due to a large public outcry, the City of Kelowna reversed the Future Land Use Designation of Kelowna Springs Golf Club from industrial back to its original private recreational usage. Unfortunately, the developer is now planning to submit another proposal to the City of Kelowna, with a two-phased development planned. The citizens of Kelowna have not changed their opinion about this development proposal which will destroy green space and wetlands, affect the adjacent agricultural land, and flood downstream infrastructure. There is vacant industrial land in Kelowna for warehouses. It is up to us to fight to protect this area. Given this unfortunate situation, it is up to each of us to ensure that this green space is not irreversibly damaged by a developer. Kelowna doesn’t have even one municipal golf course. This would make an ideal municipal golf course.
Here is the link to the new petition: https://chng.it/WsPCGQwWLz. Please share this with everyone.
Save Kelowna Springs Letter to Council
The Kelowna Springs Golf Course is at risk for industrial development. It would be perfect as a municipal golf course. This page includes a proposal at the botton called “The Next Chapter” which includes background information and the arguments for this property to be purchased by the City of Kelowna for flood protection and the benefits of a municipal golf course especially this property. It is unique. There are also published letters on this page written by individuals which are also of interest and include valuable information. Many have been posted on several media sites.
Directly below is a request that you can send to the Kelowna mayor and councillors so your voice can go on record. Please feel free to print this up or give it to your friends to drop off or email at:
Tom Dyas tdyas@kelowna.ca Ron Cannan <rcannan@kelowna.ca>
Gord Lovegrove glovegrove@kelowna.ca Charlie Hodge<chodge@kelowna.ca>
Maxine DeHart mdehart@kelowna.ca Rick Webber rwebber@kelowna.ca
Mohini Singh msingh@kelowna.ca Luke Stack lstack@kelowna.ca
The following are several points about Kelowna Springs Golf Course:
- It is a full-length walkable, affordable golf course
- It is well used by Kelowna residents and tourists
- It doesn’t rely on city water for irrigation
- It provides a large, natural storm water management system saving the city huge costs
- It is bordered by agricultural land/ALR on three sides
- Development would result in a loss of important stormwater storage, flood downstream infrastructure and the airport, and would raise the groundwater table on the adjacent farmland
- Development would result in the loss of 106 ac of greenspace and an important amenity
- As a municipal golf course, it will provide affordable golf for all ages and income brackets and support the tourism industry
- As a public recreational amenity, it could provide special youth programs e.g., free clubs for kids, $5 green fees for teens such as in Calgary, and physical and personal benefits: comradeship, etiquette, fitness, balance, and opportunity. Winter use also.
- As a city asset, it is a turnkey operation with a restaurant, club house, golf carts, pull carts, mowing and other maintenance equipment
- As a municipal golf course, it would employ city staff
- Municipal golf courses are profitable e.g., Vancouver: 6 municipal golf courses: revenue $16 million, net profit $7 million
- The city of Kelowna has a parks budget of $358 million and an annual surplus of $137 million, therefore the city can afford it (reimburse the developer the purchase cost of $30 million)
- City can expropriate it for storm water management and infrastructure protection
- This is the last opportunity for a full-length municipal golf course – only the city can save it!
I,________________________________, _________________________________(address), agree with these points and request that the city of Kelowna purchase/expropriate Kelowna Springs Golf Course.
_________________________________ ________________________
Signature Date
Your Voice posted Apr 22, 2025 by Susan Ames KelownaNow
Open letter to Kelowna Council Daily Courier May 21 2025
Dear Editor:
Kelowna City Council needs to correct the misguided past decisions that has set the current stage for Kelowna Springs Golf Course to be sacrificed for industrial development. Once covered with concrete and pavement, it will be gone forever. This may be your last chance to prevent this tragedy from happening.
Council needs to step up and take the necessary action to purchase/expropriate this property and return it to an operating 18-hole walkable and affordable golf course. This is a gem of a green space and wetlands property. It is a poor man’s equivalent of another gem, the Kelowna Golf & Country Club which is privately owned and essentially unavailable to the public. Imagine the hue and cry if nine holes of this gem was slated to be converted to concrete and blacktop.
The City is in a perfect position to acquire the Kelowna Springs property and then send out an open Request For Proposal for management and maintenance of a profitable 18 hole golf course operation.
Other B.C. municipalities like Vancouver and Burnaby have been very financially successful with operating several golf courses that enjoy affordable city resident rates as well as preserve green space forever. With the forthcoming demise of Shadow Ridge GC, this will be the only walkable full length course in the city. With up to 80,000 rounds per year (which is the highest in our region) Council has the ability to make this gem a profitable showcase.
Thank you for your consideration. Please step up and do the right thing.
Dave Grundy
Kelowna
Your Voice: Did Kelowna Council do everything it could to buy Kelowna Springs?
KelownaNow May 7, 2025
Fact or Fiction: City Council did all they could to purchase Kelowna Springs Golf Course?
Well folks we are down to the short strokes as the Purchaser / Industrial Developer of Kelowna Springs Golf Course has provided a plan to destroy this beautiful property. This property provides a large, natural storm water management system which would save the City huge costs in the future if purchased and operated as a municipal golf course.
Mr. Tom Dyas used the saving of the Kelowna Springs Golf Course as one of his electoral promises in becoming Mayor. As known, Mayor Dyas was successful in the election.
in June 2023, the present City Council including the newly elected Mayor Dyas, after a Public Hearing, changed the Future Land Use designation back to Private Recreational, due to the hue and cry from the Citizens of Kelowna, to reflect Community interests and preserve recreational activities.
On December 3rd, 2024 Mayor Dyas provided an update on this property owned by Denciti Development Corp. Mayor Dyas went on to state that substantial feedback was received by the public who value KSGC and its positive contributions to the City. He stated that with this in mind, he directed City Staff to explore all options for the City to acquire the property from Denciti Development Corp., to protect it for Recreational use. Apparently despite their best efforts, the City was unable to reach an agreement as Denciti were unwilling vendors.
Since this update was put into print, it has been learned from a source within Denciti Development Corp that apparently there was NO Offer made to them by the City which appeared confirmed by a Councilor I conversed with. Apparently, the City sent out Planning Staff to negotiate with the developer. This is ludicrous as City Planning are the ones who in 2022 brought forward to council the change in the Future Land Use to industrial. One would have to be naive to think that if Planning was involved in the first place in changing the property to an industrial land use, that they would negotiate in good faith.
Furthermore, with No Offer ever made to Denciti Development Corp for the purchase then what did the Planning staff do during negotiations? Wine and dine and discuss the future ruination of this property? Where were the City Realtors who deal in selling and buying properties? Why did the mayor not ensure the right people were utilized in the negotiations?
Photo credit: Kelowna Springs Golf Course
I sent two requests to Mayor Dyas asking for him to respond on this apparent attempt to purchase KSGC and confirm what if anything was offered. Mayor Dyas has yet to respond and it has been weeks. It appears from speaking with Councilors, they cannot comment on what goes on “In Camera” at their Council meetings. It appears Mayor Dyas does not comment to Citizens outside of In Camera meetings when touchy subjects are questioned.
The Mayor and Council seem to forget that they utilize Public Funds to purchase things including properties. Why the citizens of Kelowna cannot get pertinent information from the City regarding issues like this is bogus. The Mayor seems to release information when he’s happy to gloat in apparent glory on purchases the City has made.
Example: The mayor made a recent release about the start of the new Parkinson Recreation Centre at a cost of $242.2 Million. I’m happy the Mayor’s happy but he should be the only person happy! Why? Because the Mayor and Council were advised that in Vancouver the New Westminster Recreation Centre, which won a prestigious award, was constructed in 2024 at a cost of $107 million. This structure was similar to that to be built at Parkinson Rec with a total floor area of 114,600 sq ft and a 50 m swimming pool with 8 lanes while the new PRC will have a 25-m pool.
So why would the Mayor think everyone should be happy paying out an extra $135 million for virtually the same product! It appears that Council members are very careless in spending taxpayers money. Apparently, Kelowna is a cash cow and no one needs to be thrifty when it comes to large purchases.
In conclusion, money does not appear to be an issue whenever the City decides they want to purchase property such as the Michael Brook Golf Course which will become baseball fields. It appears that the City is not inclined to purchase Kelowna Springs Golf Course perhaps salivating on thoughts of future revenues from Denciti after the property is converted to industrial.
My vote is that the City did little to purchase this property from Denciti and the press releases by the Mayor were merely smoke and mirrors to make the citizens of Kelowna mistakenly believe the city acted on our behalf.
Verdict: Fiction.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Simpson
Kelowna
Your Voice: Kelowna pickleball plan could cause flooding of agricultural land
The writer of the letter (I’m disheartened that Kelowna pickleball facility could cost $780 a year, April 17, 2025) seems to have hit the pickleball on the racket with reference to the following: “What protections are in place to ensure our members are not simply being leveraged to rally public support for rezoning and project approvals?” and “But it feels like our club’s credibility and unity may be used to serve an agenda that’s ultimately profit-driven, not player-focused.” This sadly is likely the case. The developer originally wanted to put warehouses over the whole golf course even though Kelowna has vacant industrial land.
The pickelballers just want to have a covered place to play but at $780/year this turns it into an elite sport based on average pickleball costs. The pickeballers may not realize that 480 Penno Road is sensitive green space that operates as flood protection to the city and it is currently a walkable golf course that has been affordable for all ages and economic brackets of golfers for over 30 years. Now, if this development is approved by the mayor and council, this is going to result in them losing their sport facility. This is not “perfect” nor a “win win” for the golfers or the environment.
The pickleball courts would also require, at 480 Penno Road, the soils to be compressed, filled, and paved and be substantially higher than the adjacent land to prevent it from flooding. As well, by blocking the groundwater flow, the adjacent land will be flooded including the land in the Agricultural Land Reserve that surrounds most of the golf course.
Photo credit: Denciti
The city is going to provide 12 paved pickleball courts for the new PRC so it seems that the city should work with these pickelballers who want a covering dome to play in the winter. Perhaps the city can support portable domes so all of the pickleball courts at the PRC can be covered in the winter as the pickelballers do like to play outside in the summer months. The PRC isn’t right downtown but the pickleball courts currently at the PRC are well used so they must be conveniently located. If they had portable domes, these would tie them over until the new ones are built and then they can be used on the new PRC pickleball courts.
This link describes the potable domes: Sports and Recreation | Broadwell Air Domes – Global Leader in Air Domes. It states that they are often used over courts such as pickleball and can set up and taken down every year. Now that is a “win win”!
The writer states that pickleball players voices “matter at city hall.”
Different people play different sports and the golfers voices matter, too. The city doesn’t have even one municipal course so the city can buy Kelowna Springs (or expropriate it for flood protection) and support affordable golf for all ages of players in Kelowna. Now this would be a “win win!”
Susan Ames
Kelowna
Alternative to development
Contributed – Apr 10, 2025 / 10:33 am | Story: 543783 Castanet
Re. Future of the Kelowna Spring Golf course
Denciti Developments held an open house April 9 at Springfield Middle School to present its plan for the redevelopment of the Kelowna Springs Golf course.
While it would seem obvious the local golf community had some interest in attending, other residents who live in and around Kelowna should should have also attended.
Denciti is promising to construct 12 pickleball courts as part of its development plan. That, I believe, is a smoke-and-mirror proposal which tries to pit one recreational community against another.
To pickleballers, this developer is not a philanthropist. If you believe it will provide a low-cost (or no cost) pickleball facility as a goodwill gesture to Kelowna pickleballers, think again. It is a for-profit company. If there is no money in it for (the developer), the facility will quickly close and Denciti would be right back in front of city council asking to redevelop the pickleball lands into some other commercial venture.
If Denciti is serious about pickleball, I have another idea. As you drive into Kelowna Springs, there is a vacant piece of flat land, on the left, that is currently being used for storage of construction equipment and materials. That property has been owned by the golf course for many years and was recently a mini-golf course owned and operated by Kelowna Springs.
Why not develop that vacant piece of flat land into an all-season pickleball facility? It could accommodate about 32 courts. The pickleball players could use the existing golf course parking lot, clubhouse and restaurant. If additional parking is needed, the number of courts could be reduced to 24.
The golf course would remain untouched. If some of the courts were covered, the clubhouse and restaurant could become year-round facilities, which would make operations more profitable for the owner of the golf course. Is that not a win-win for the golf and pickleball enthusiasts (some of whom are the same people)?
The real reason the city needs to buy (or expropriate) the golf course property is in 2017 (and other years), there was significant flooding along the Mill Creek corridor. Many commercial and industrial properties in the Adams Road area were flooded. What helped to limit the amount of flood damage was the volume of water that ended up flowing into the Kelowna Springs golf course.
Had the golf course not also flooded, many more Adams Road properties would have been flooded and private property damage would have been far worse.
You may want to ask the developer why it is planning to develop the part of the golf course property that flooded in 2017. If that Mill Creek flood-relief area is no longer available within the golf course due to development, where exactly will all the water go when Mill Creek floods again?
Insurance companies hate paying out claims. So, after the city approves the development and when Mill Creek floods again, the insurance companies will do their research and find the City of Kelowna was aware development of Kelowna Springs would create additional flood risks for properties along the Mill Creek corridor. When the insurance companies go after the city for reimbursements of the flood claims, the $35 million price tag for the city to purchase the golf course will certainly seem like small-potatoes.
Even at $35 million, the golf course would be, at worst, a revenue-neutral facility for the city. When you consider arenas and pools are subsidized by taxpayers in the order of 80% and parks are subsidized at 100%, it doesn’t seem like a hard decision for the city to purchase or expropriate the golf course.
James Roe
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/543783/Alternative-to-development
Thinks course will be closed
Contributed – Apr 9, 2025 / 1:16 pm | Story: 543561
I read with concern the recent article about the Denciti Development Corp. and its plan for the Kelowna Springs Golf Course.
The developer stated 35 acres would be turned into a business park, with various uses including manufacturing and assembly, as well as warehouses.
In carrying out that plan, the developer will cause the ruination of the land which presently assists in flood management and protection of the adjacent farm land.
The developer indicated its plan is to build a year-round 12-court pickle ball dome. That will require the land to be paved over and ruined forever. I noted it would take credit for this pickleball (complex) however I was informed (local) pickleballers will be on the hook for the cost of the dome, which is substantial.
I would suggest the developer used the quote in order to get kudos from the public.
The developer went on to indicate six acres will be developed for walking trails etc. in its natural state. The existing 51-acre nine-hole golf course and club house will be maintained. In completing its dream, the developer stated up to 700 jobs will be created.
Let’s be honest here, the 700 jobs will not full-time jobs, most will be used in construction jobs and once the work is completed, the jobs will no longer be there.
Additionally, if you think the golf course will be maintained for any length of time, I have swamp land in Florida for people to purchase.
Currently, the nine-hole course is offering memberships for sale. The cost of a membership is $3,200 and should one wish to play another nine holes afterwards, they are required to pay the existing rate for playing those additional nine holes. Unless this is incorrect, no one with any sense would pay that exorbitant amount.
It is obvious (to me) the developer and Mr. Robertson have no intention in keeping it a nine-hole golf course, because in one or two years at most, it will be reported that despite all of its effort, golfers are not interested in pursuing the course due to lack of rounds played.
At that time, the city will be requested to rezone the property so the remaining 51 acres of the site can become the desired industrial property and everything will be realized by Denciti Development Corp.
It’s time Kelowna’s mayor and city councilllors stand up to their commitment in 2023 where they voted 8 to 1 to save the course.
(As a candidate) the current mayor insisted he’d save the course if he elected back in 2022. Where is that commitment now ? One never hears it, just the mayor’s feeble comment that (the owners) are unwilling vendors.
Well, make them willing. Offer them their money back and if not, expropriate the land. The developer bought the land, when it was zoned recreational and not industrial.
The mayor and councillors never personally respond when letters are submitted to them, which leads one to believe they are either disinterested in saving the property from industrial use or perhaps another gag order has been implemented preventing them reaching out to the authors of the letters.
It seems odd that the Michaelbrook and Shadow Ridge golf courses have been purchased by the city, however, not Kelowna Springs, which would be an asset to the residents of Kelowna. The course would be affordable and walkable for people of all ages.
I would suggest it is high time city council listened to the residents for whom they toil, rather than the almighty dollar.
It appears, so far, there is a lot of rhetoric without substance coming from council.
Joe Simpson, Kelowna
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/543561/Thinks-course-will-be-closed
Another call for golf course
Contributed – Mar 27, 2025 / 9:47 am | Story: 540957
The City of Kelowna has to make more of an effort to purchase or expropriate Kelowna Springs Golf Course for numerous reasons, including flood management, the protection of adjacent farmland, and the opportunity to have a municipal golf course for the public, an enduring city asset.
What is the hurry? The developer stated he will with his plan to pave it over if council approves the plan (“Kelowna Springs redevelopment plans set for early 2025 reveal, December 2, 2025).
Right now, he is allowing half the golf course to go to weeds, which will make it more expensive to get it back up and running. Why wait for this to happen if the city is going to buy it anyway?
• It’s the same mayor and council that voted 8-1 to save it in 2023.
• It’s the same developer.
• It’s the same plan.
• It’s the same land.
• It’s the same range of concerns.
• It’s the same range of issues.
• It’s the same public.
• It’s the same person, Mayor Tom Dyas, who said in 2022 (as a mayoral candidate), he would fight to save Kelowna Springs if he became mayor. I believed him and I voted for him.
Nothing has changed. So what is the hold up on the city’s part? Are there funds available? Yes. Does (the city) leave the potential for airport and downstream flooding to a developer? Is our agricultural land worth protecting? Does the public deserve such an amenity for their social and physical health?
Dyas said he sent city staff out to buy it and despite their best efforts, they came away empty handed. How much was the offer? According to the mayor’s comments, it was not what the developer paid. That doesn’t sound very serious to me.
Residents of Kelowna need to rise up and demand the city protect this green space and, at the same time, provide the community a huge amenity as a walkable, affordable municipal golf course with all its amenities for the public in summer and winter.
Vancouver has six municipal golf courses, Burnaby has five, Calgary has seven, Kelowna has none.
It’s the last chance. The last call. There is an old saying, “you snooze, you lose”. There is also, “I turned around and it was gone.”
Susan Ames
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/540957/Another-call-for-golf-course
City should expropriate
Contributed – Mar 26, 2025 / 11:41 am | Story: 540746
Re. Kelowna Springs Golf Course
Open letter to Kelowna’s mayor and city councillors
It is common knowledge health is better if you go out and exercise. Getting together with friends is also healthier for every demographic.
Although I do not play pickleball, bocchi, ride my bike around my city, use the Okanagan Rail Trail, hike other trails in the area or play softball, I support their ongoing upkeep and development to sustain and develop them through the city’s tax structure. Even though I see those venues vacant of people (players), we support them.
I do play golf and I see Kelowna Springs Golf Course as a niche course that supports affordable quality golf, compared to others in the area that offer a greater challenge at a much more expensive rate.
There is only one other golf course in the city that provides that style of affordable play. The City of Kelowna has purchased Michaelbrook Golf Course and publicly stated it wants to turn it into ball fields. Shadow Ridge Golf Course has already been designated to be turned into part of the airport.
What I can’t get over is the lack of Kelowna city council getting seriously proactive in taking on the Kelowna Springs Golf Course. (The course) was specifically designed to be walked, catering to every demographic, with a major golf course designer, Les Furber, designing the green complexes and bunkering. That gives Kelowna Springs a design that brings the golf course to be above average playability, while still playable for all demographics.
As a previous writer pointed out, city run municipal golf courses in other cities are successful and profitable. The city needs to look seriously at how much it is spending on recreation and for what demographic. Golf is something that falls into every age category.
The Kelowna Springs Golf Course, as a city owned facility, would benefit the residents of Kelowna and the city would benefit from cash flow, not to mention the value of the property would continue to rise. It would be a win-win for the City of Kelowna.
Mr. Mayor, it’s time for you to keep your promise. Show you care about recreation for all in our city and do what you said you would do, whatever legal direction you have to go in to preserve Kelowna Springs—expropriate or rescind rezoning.
Fight it out to preserve (the golf course).
Dave McClellan
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/540746/City-should-expropriate
Speak up for golf course
Contributed – Mar 21, 2025 / 2:16 pm | Story: 539948
Five dollar golf. That is what hundreds of working-class and lower income kids are paying to enjoy hours of outdoor fun on municipal golf courses in cities like Spokane, Vancouver, Burnaby and Calgary (as of next month).
(Kelowna) could go one step further and create the Kelowna Springs Junior Golf Club, where juniors have priority when booking start times daily. Combine that with all the programs (lessons, academies, free clubs, tournaments and more) that those other cities have for kids, aged seven and up and (the city) would have something unique.
But no, not Kelowna. Why? Because people won’t speak up and tell the city a permanent municipal golf course would be great for kids, young adults and young families.
Kelowna’s mayor and city councillors are afraid to stand up to (those) pushing the “destruction” of Kelowna Springs Golf Course (and an important flood plain) for three years, encouraging a developer to plow it up for warehouses. The city of Kelowna never made a serious offer to buy the property and just needs to expropriate it.
Service groups that support the preservation of the green space don’t want to speak up for some fear of confronting city hall, saying the issue is political. That’s not correct. The issue is to save a floodplain that protects the surrounding farms, the airport and enhance a great golf facility.
Prominent local residents say it’s political. Again not true. Agencies that support youth absolutely want kids to have such a facility but fear losing funding if they challenge city hall.
Don Henderson, Kelowna
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/539948/Speak-up-for-golf-course
Another call to buy course
Contributed – Jan 7, 2025 / 10:19 am | Story: 526277 Castanet
This letter is to advise the taxpayers of Kelowna of the future tax burden we will be faced with if the Kelowna Springs Golf Course is paved and replaced with warehousing and parking lots.
The issue is the flood plain for Mill Creek which serves as a giant holding “tank”, preventing water from flowing downstream and into the City via Mill Creek.
If the golf course is compacted, filled, paved over and replaced by warehousing and asphalt parking lots, the cost to the city would be in the millions to deal with the additional flooding that will occur each year in the City of Kelowna.
Work has already been done on flood mitigation projects along Mill Creek for the past few years, and is nowhere near completion. The federal government agreed to $22 million in funding in 2019 for work on Mill Creek through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. The total cost is at least $55 million.
The cost of buying the golf course to save the Mill Creek flood plain may be $30 million to $35 million. The cost to the City of Kelowna (funded by taxpayers) because of an increase in future flooding would be many times that amount.
In September 2024, the City of Kelowna approved a budget of $358 million for new parks. The cost to buy this golf course is a small fraction of that amount.
(The city) must purchase this golf course to prevent future flooding and for many other reasons too numerous to mention in the scope of this letter.
To reduce the future City of Kelowna tax burden, contact the mayor and city councillors and urge them to (have the city) buy or expropriate this golf course.
To do otherwise will cost many millions of unnecessary tax dollars.
Chris Gerwing , Kelowna
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/526277/Another-call-to-buy-course
Time for mayor to make real effort
The Daily Courier 4 Jan 2025
Did the city of Kelowna really make a major effort to buy Kelowna Springs Golf Course? I don’t think so.
Maybe Denciti really rebuffed the city of Kelowna’s offer to purchase Kelowna Springs (“City rebuffed in bid to buy golf course”, Dec. 11) but how much did the city offer? Half price?
We don’t know. Why is this a concern? Mayor Tom Dyas stated that if Denciti Developments submitted an application for industrial development, “council will evaluate it with the upmost care…” What message does that send to the developer? That the city will consider industrial development.
If the city said “we are not going to rezone this golf course” what would the developer do? Cut his losses and sell it to the city, of course, at say $30 million (what he paid) plus interest, etc. Why would a developer hold onto a property if he/she couldn’t do what he/she wanted?
As noted in the article, there was a big hue and cry from the public when they got wind of what the city was up to so this became a 2022 election issue. Mayor Dyas said he would “fight to save Kelowna Springs if he became mayor” – he did. Where is the “fight” now?
We now know more about the importance of Kelowna Springs especially its flood protection of the adjacent agricultural land and the downstream infrastructure including the airport which the City is spending millions of dollars on. This flood protection has been described numerous times including recently (“Water issue at golf courses”, Dec 11,). Why would the city even take a chance?
The City of Kelowna doesn’t have a municipal golf course that would serve the public and tourism alike. It could purchase Kelowna Springs using a part of the September 2024 budget of $358 million for new parks.
If Denciti Development doesn’t want to negotiate, the city has the option of expropriating Kelowna Springs at fair market value of say $6 million without the owner’s consent…to protect city infrastructure from flooding. Would Denciti sell if he thought the city might expropriate the land in the best interests of the city? Of course.
It is time for the mayor to make a real effort to acquire Kelowna Springs and confirm to the owner the city is serious about this. As a municipal golf course, this sensitive green space will be an asset to the city, including the residents of Kelowna.
Susan Ames, PhD, MSc, BSc
Kelowna
https://kelownadailycourier.pressreader.com/the-daily-courier/20250104/281719800216014/textview
Mayor must save golf course
Castanet- Jan 3, 2025 https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/525686/Mayor-must-save-golf-course
Mr. Tom Dyas: People are tired of politicians and business executives not keeping their word, ignoring commitments and just thinking that those in middle and lower income brackets can be disregarded, duped, victimized, ignored and ultimately forgotten, with the proverbial “it’s time to move on” disrespectful attitude.
No more.
You cannot commit to saving Kelowna Springs Golf Course, vote to keep the property recreational along with seven of eight councillors, then entertain and possibly accept a proposal to develop the property.
You have received a petition and many, many emails informing you of the benefits of this property recreationally, environmentally, socially and economically in its current form. The physical and mental health benefits to users are scientifically proven. You have the studies. This is what everyone has committed to preserving, and you have been informed on how that can be done—at 2.8%, the price/per acre the city so enthusiastically paid for the Truswell property.
The energy of mayor, council and staff should be focused on informing residents of the full, year-round recreational benefits for city residents and visitors. The property has so much to offer all Kelowna residents.
Don Henderson
Kelowna
Water issue at golf courses
Contributed – Dec 11, 2024 / 11:19 am by Tom Bennett | Story: 522160 Castanet
The Kelowna Springs and Shadow Ridge golf courses are two of the best manicured wetland areas in the Okanagan Valley.
Kelowna Springs was built on swamp land and the designers have done an excellent job of flood and water management. This system is able to supports all sorts of species of animals. The swamp is fed from the Highway 97 ancient “river,” as well as tributaries from the lake chain along the ridge opposite Highway 97.
With the construction of buildings on the property, it will cause flooding from the underground flow from the streams and river channels being damned. That changed water flow will drive water to the surface, as a result of the necessary compaction to hold a structure.
If you review Google Maps, the area north of the Kelowna Springs and Shadow Ridge golf courses is the Kelowna airport. Any surface pooling or flooding will destabilize the soil under the airport’s runway. If you view the runway from the No. 3 tee box at Shadow Ridge golf course you will see the runway is already lower in the terminal area and raises at both ends.
There are also rolls in the surface from underground stream damage and settling.
If you need further evidence of these events, look a couple of miles west at the Glenmore Road ancient “river” bed that originates in Winfield. The Glenmore Landfill was built on a swamp, and there is now a large block of garbage and soil compressing the swamp soil and disrupting the underground rivers and streams.
As you follow the road north, you will see two alkaline lakes that now are at full pool year round. The one by the McKinley Beach turn off is approaching the level of the roadway. The water is backing up to the surface on a minor water flow of small streams. I have monitored it happening over the last 10 years.
Kelowna Springs has a huge volume of underground water flowing into the wetland area, so surface pooling will happen at a much quicker rate than at the Glenmore Landfill. The development of an industrial park on the golf course would be major expense to the city—rebuilding the airport’s runway.
Tom Bennett
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/522160/Water-issue-at-golf-courses
Your Voice posted Dec 9, 2024 @ 04:30am by Don Henderson KelownNow
Your Voice: If Tom Dyas is sincere, the City of Kelowna will own Kelowna Springs within a year
For two days Mayor Dyas has said in print and on the radio that the city wants to buy KSGC but the owner doesn’t want to sell.
Great, the city wants to buy Kelowna Springs.
The developer’s sense of power here is illusory.
The city holds all the aces.
Denciti either sells the property, it gets expropriated or they sit on 106 acres of recreational land and $30 million in dead money, while paying taxes on non-ALR land.
Assuming Mayor Dyas is sincere, based on his pre-election promise, he will press our advantage and we should own the land within a year.
Don Henderson
Kelowna
Your Voice: City of Kelowna justified in expropriating Kelowna Springs if deal can’t be reached
Dear Editor:
Mayor Dyas and the City Council’s ongoing efforts to reach a sale agreement with the owner of the Kelowna Spring Golf Course is to be commended. However, disappointingly the golf course owner so far has rejected city’s offers – even knowing changing the golf course area to industrial use will destroy the flood protection environmentally green sensitive area and an affordable functioning golf course that residents and visitors love.
The city is justified, if failing to reach with an amicable agreement with the golf course owner, to expropriate this area for the common good of the community. The expropriation procedure could determine the fair price the owner should have. Let’s see how much the city politicians are committed to saving the golf course or was this a ploy for them to get elected.
This area acts as a critical flood control and recreation setup for Kelowna residents. The golf course green area provides benefits to local and regional economy, employment, tourism, health, wildlife, vegetation, trees, fish habitat, and resiliency to climate change impacts.
The golf course owner plans are to retain the first nine hole as a nine-hole golf course and to level the back nine holes to nature. Concerns however remain if levelling the back nine golf course involves removing vegetations and trees and filling the low ground that is retaining flood water with exported material. This action will destroy the very things that provides benefit.
The back nine hole has more trees/vegetation and low area than the front nine hole.
Filling and removing the trees would cause irreparable damage and add costs to city’s operations. City has a fiduciary duty to ensue what ever action is taken by the owner does not destroy the present flood containment function and environment integrity of the area that protects the Kelowna residents.
Amar(jit) Chadha, P.Eng. (SM), M.Eng., FEC
Kelowna
posted Dec 9, 2024 @ 07:30am by Amar Chadha
Your Voice posted Dec 6, 2024 @ 11:00am by Joe Simpson
Your Voice: How does paving over Kelowna Springs benefit citizens when a heat dome occurs?
It is amazing to me that after the Dec 3rd, 2024 article circulated by Mayor Dyas indicating that the City of Kelowna did everything possible to purchase the property operated as Kelowna Springs Golf Course but the now owner (Denciti Development Corp) were unwilling vendors to their proposals, that an immediate response was made on Dec 5th by Denciti.
No doubt City staff would have submitted a report on their dealings with Mr. Fawley to the Mayor and Council on their attempt(s) to purchase this property back to the City! I’m sure the City would share this report upon request to ensure everything is open and transparent!
Denciti Development Corp indicated to the media that their plan is to have a nine-hole golf course along with a 12-court pickleball facility and public green space with a trail network.
Let’s be honest here, the timing here is not believable that the two parties didn’t know this before their publications! Mayor Dyas indicated that should any deviation to the current zoning be made then Council would be very vigilant in scrutinizing any request made by Denciti!
That is an interesting comment given the fact that Denciti knew that Kelowna Springs Golf Course was zoned Park-Open Space and NOT Industrial when they purchased this land. Knowing this fact would lead one to reasonably believe that should the City be honest in saying they wish to save this property as a golf course all they need to do is to deny rezoning to Denciti! Denciti would then be more amenable to sell the property for a price that both sides agree upon and each side would save face regarding this sale.
Interesting enough City Council held an emergency meeting earlier in the year due to issues on climate change. Worldwide temperature changes have occurred and to dispose of this land would be atrocious given the large amount of water contained on this property along with the trees etc that will support life including animals, birds etc if and when the temperature becomes extreme! Green space has shrunken in Kelowna due to growth in housing and industrial use over the years.
Surely Mr. Fawley realizes that the number of golfers far exceeds the amount of Pickleballers as seen at the public hearing. Where does paving over this land for these courts benefit the citizens of Kelowna in the future when a heat dome occurs not to mention the revenue for tourists coming to Kelowna to golf?
Furthermore, I would be interested to know whether Denciti or city planners have utilized engineers to determine what would occur if the land is filled and compacted with that amount of water contained within! Would the building on this land hold up or create disastrous problems for the downstream infrastructure and the nearby farmland not to mention its inability to sustain life in the future?
The City and Denciti Development Corp need to come to terms that this plan for the golf course is a bad deal for the citizens of Kelowna… now and in the future!
I agree with Dr Susan Ames (PHD in Environmental Studies) and Bob Petty that we need to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course which the City should purchase!
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Simpson
Kelowna
Thinks city holds the cards
Contributed – Dec 6, 2024 / 1:02 pm | Story: 521399 Castanet
For days, (Kelowna) Mayor Tom Dyas has said in print and on the radio the city wants to buy the Kelowna Springs Golf Course but the owner doesn’t want to sell.
It’s great, the city wants to buy Kelowna Springs. The developer’s sense of power here is illusory. The city holds all the aces.
Denciti Development Corp. either sells the property, it gets expropriated or it sits on 106 acres of recreational land and $30 million in “dead” money, while paying taxes on non-ALR land.
Assuming Dyas is sincere and based on his pre-election promise, he will press (the city’s) advantage and we should own the land within a year.
(The city) has the hand, Dyas needs to play it.
Don Henderson, Kelowna
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/521399/Thinks-city-holds-the-cards
Work to do to protect course
Contributed – Dec 4, 2024 / 11:15 am | Story: 520952 Castanet
Regarding Kelowna Springs (golf course), the city has tried to buy (it).
This obviously should have happened before. With the land still zoned as recreational, the new owners are still hoping to rip up the course and build warehouses.
Let us hope our city council remains committed to the many Kelowna (residents) who want this beautiful piece of land to remain as it is.
The mayor and councillors have their work to do and we expect them to keep their promise.
Bob Petty
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/520952/Work-to-do-to-protect-course
Letter to the editor: City of Kelowna tried to buy a golf course, but owner holding firm Infotel.Kelowna Dec 2, 2024
The city of Kelowna made a major effort to buy Kelowna Springs Golf Course. Really?
Do I think the city made their best efforts to reach an agreement with the property owner to acquire Kelowna Springs as a municipal golf course? No.
In his statement on Dec. 3, 2024, Mayor Dyas includes several interesting comments.
1.“Council directed city staff to explore all options for the city to acquire the property from Denciti Development.”
Now, why would the mayor send out a staff person to negotiate with a powerful developer for a $30 million asset, which is as important and controversial as Kelowna Springs? Would a developer think the city was serious if he wasn’t even approached by the decision makers or negotiators, being the the Mayor and the Chief Financial Officer? No. What message was the mayor sending to the developer?
Keep in mind that when the 2040 OCP was being written, the previous owner asked staff to change the future land use of Kelowna Springs to industrial, and so they did. Things went along until the public found out about it. Kelowna Springs has been an important, affordable, walkable public golf course in Kelowna for years. So the mayor sends out staff to acquire it when staff were the ones who changed and supported the future land use to industrial in the first place. There is something wrong with this picture.
2.“Despite our best efforts, the city was unable to reach an agreement with the property owner.”
Again, is sending a staff person to negotiate for a $30 million city asset considered “best” efforts?
What should have happened was that the mayor should have invited Mr. Fawley to the negotiating table. The price Denciti would probably agree to is $30 million, plus interest etc., maybe up to $35 million. In Sept. 2024, the city approved a budget for new parks, of $358 million, so the funds could come out of that. If Mr. Fawley thought there was no hope for industrial, he would cut his losses and take the money to invest somewhere else. Keep in mind, Mr. Fawley purchased Kelowna Springs just before the 2022 election when Kelowna Springs was a major election issue.
It is now recognized that Kelowna Springs is also important for many other things, including flood protection of city infrastructure. If Mr. Fawley doesn’t want to negotiate, the city has the option of expropriating Kelowna Springs at fair market value of, say, $6 million without the owner’s consent. What do you think Mr. Fawley would do? Did the city put forth their best efforts? No.
3.“Should the property owner choose to submit a development application in the future, council will evaluate it with the upmost care…”
What message is the mayor sending to the developer and to the public? That the developer should not believe that the city won’t approve industrial use. Just try it. What is the public to believe? That the city isn’t committed to saving Kelowna Springs from development. These efforts are ‘going through the motions”.
Mayor Dyas said that during the election he would fight to save Kelowna Springs if he became mayor. The public, including myself, believed him and voted for him. Were we duped? Maybe. It is time for the mayor to make a real effort to acquire Kelowna Springs and confirm to the owner the city is serious about this. As a municipal golf course, this sensitive green space will be an asset to the city including the residents of Kelowna.
Susan Ames, via email
https://infotel.ca/newsitem/in-response-readers-have-their-say/it107350
Your Voice posted Dec 5, 2024 @ 01:00pm by Susan Ames
Your Voice: The City of Kelowna could expropriate Kelowna Springs at fair market value
The City of Kelowna made a major effort to buy Kelowna Springs Golf Course – really?
Do I think the City made their best efforts to reach an agreement with the property owner to acquire Kelowna Springs as a municipal golf course? No.
In his statement of Dec. 3, 2024 Mayor Dyas includes several “interesting” comments.
1. “Council directed city staff to explore all options for the city to acquire the property from Denciti Development Corp…” Now, why would the mayor send out a staff person to negotiate with a powerful developer for a $30 million asset which is as important and controversial as Kelowna Springs? Would Denciti think the city is serious if he wasn’t even approached by the decision makers/negotiators – the mayor and the chief financial officer? No. What message was the mayor sending to the developer?
2. “Despite our best efforts, the city was unable to reach an agreement with the property owner.” Again, is sending a staff person to negotiate for a $30 million city asset considered “best” efforts?
What should have happened was that the mayor should have invited Denciti to the negotiating table. The price Denciti would probably agree to is $30 million plus interest etc., maybe up to $35 million. In September, 2024, the city approved a budget, for new parks, of $358 million, so the funds could come out of that. If the developer thought there was no hope for industrial, he would cut his losses and take the money to invest somewhere else. Keep in mind, Denciti purchased Kelowna Springs just before the 2022 election when Kelowna Springs was a major election issue.
<img alt=” Photo Credit: Kelowna Springs Golf Course via Facebook” src=”https://www.kelownanow.com/files/files/images/ksgc%20(1).png”>
Photo Credit: Kelowna Springs Golf Course via Facebook
It is now recognized that Kelowna Springs is also important for many other things including flood protection of city infrastructure. If the developer doesn’t want to negotiate, the city has the option of expropriating Kelowna Springs at fair market value of say $6 million without the owner’s consent. What do you think Denciti would do? Did the city put forth their best efforts? No.
3. “Should the property owner choose to submit a development application in the future, Council will evaluate it with the upmost care…” What message is the mayor sending to the developer and to the public? That the developer should not believe that the city won’t approve industrial use. Just try it. What is the public to believe? That the city isn’t committed to saving Kelowna Springs from development. These efforts are “going through the motions.”
Mayor Dyas said that during the election he would fight to save Kelowna Springs if he became mayor – the public, including myself, believed him and voted for him. Were we duped? Maybe. It is time for the mayor to make a real effort to acquire Kelowna Springs and confirm to the owner the city is serious about this. As a municipal golf course, this sensitive green space will be an asset to the city including the residents of Kelowna.
Susan Ames
Kelowna
Your Voice posted Nov 1, 2024 @ 09:00pm by Don Henderson KelownaNow
Your Voice: As deadly floods batter Spain, we should take proactive measures to protect Kelowna
Dear Mayor and Council
I have taken a brief quote from an article from Science Media Centre regarding the severe flooding in the Valencia area of Spain.
The heavy rains are explained and climate change certainly will affect us also.
Take a look at some of the photos and videos to see the devastation, resulting in more than 150 deaths.
We must take proactive measures to protect ourselves in Kelowna from all climate threats and certainly, as is explained in the brief quote below, from possibility of flooding.
Certainly, as all reports indicate, preserving the land that Kelowna Springs Golf Club sits on would be a major step in preventing surrounding and downstream flooding.
Please, do not minimize the threat nor say that it is someone else’s problem in the future. Clearly the threat is here now, and we can get atmospheric rivers.
Here is the link and quote.
Dr Kevin Collins, senior lecturer environment and systems, Open University, said:
“However, very intense storms do not automatically result in damage. Many other factors are at play. For example, Chiva, which experienced severe damage, is located in the upper reaches of the River Turia catchment, close to the mountains. The distance from the mountains to the sea is also very short. This combination means that there is little scope for slowing or absorbing water in agricultural fields or open landscapes, though in this case, it is debatable how much this would have reduced impacts. In other contexts, reduced forest cover from clearances and also climate change, can also mean more water reaches bare and baked ground more quickly adding to the volume and speed of runoff from mountainous areas.
Sincerely,
Don Henderson
Kelowna
City should buy golf course
Contributed – Oct 28, 2024 Castanet (see link below)
Open letter to Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas and Kelowna city councillors
The city should consider acquiring the Kelowna Springs Golf Green area. There are good reasons for doing that.
The owners of the Kelowna Springs Golf Club are planning to downgrade the golf course to a nine-hole golf course (from current 19-hole course), along with other developments. This proposal will likely be opposed by golfers, stakeholders and adjacent residents.
A majority of the public, adjacent residents and users of Kelowna Spring want the golf course and green space to remain intact as it is. They feel the golf course and its greens surrounding with water ponds are unique assets in the city, serving very useful purposes and should be protected. Once lost, this Kelowna’s jewel cannot be replaced.
The mayor and the city council have been very supportive of protecting the golf course green space and listened to the public by holding a public hearing last year.
Through the public hearing and receiving public and stakeholders’ input, on June 20, 2023, the council changed the land designation of the Kelowna Spring Golf land from industrial use to P3 recreation use. A further step is now required to protect the Kelowna Springs green space.
To meet the goal of protecting this land permanently, it is recommended the city acquire this green area and protect it by designating it part of the city’s critical flood control and recreation infrastructure assets.
• Kelowna Springs golf green area is a flood storage and water drainage basin that can store estimated half a million cubic metres of water during flood times. Loss of this large water containment area would have serious flood damage consequences down stream that would affect the life and health of people and cause damage and loss of property.
This storage area helps calm Mill Creek down stream for about 10 hours while it fills from flood waters from surrounding and upstream areas.
• To replace the Kelowna Springs flood storage basin with equivalent storage capacity would be expensive, both to construct and maintain. A new location will not provide the social and environmental benefits the existing golf course provides.
• As a municipal golf course, it could pay for itself while maintaining flood and drainage benefits to city residents and businesses. Its surplus revenues could provide financial assistance to other recreational facilities in the city. Almost 75,000 rounds of golf are played on this facility annually. At $60 per round, the facility generates a revenue of $4.5 million.
• As a municipal course, it would retain benefits it provides to employment, local and regional economy, tourism and recreation. The golf course would become more precious with the city growing and having less green and open spaces due to encroaching development pressures.
• It would continue to provide for stormwater management to protect the adjacent agricultural land and downstream infrastructure, such as the Kelowna International Airport, saving the city millions of dollars in natural stormwater management. It would also help to mitigate additional water runoff caused by new developments at the airport and surrounding areas.
• Uncontrolled flood water affects ground water quality as well as the quality of water in Okanagan Lake, which is a drinking source for many communities located adjacent to it. That could have a negative impact on a large area, impacting human, animal, plant and fish health.
• It would continue to provide benefits to transportation, freight traffic and emergency routes. Loss of the green area will increase flooding risks. Bridges, culverts and water structures down stream unless upgraded could get washed or damaged, resulting in disruption of business, trade and industry.
• Kelowna Springs Golf course grassed areas and trees would continue to absorb approximately 440 tons of carbon dioxide annually and that would also continue to counter climate change. Loss of green space would negatively impact local and national climate change initiatives and goals.
• It would continue to provide wildlife (habitat) and protect animal, bird, plant and fish life on the course, as well down stream.
• It would continue to provide an affordable, social and healthy recreation for children, seniors and (others).
• It would acknowledge Kelowna as a dynamic city, having a municipal golf course. Most cities and towns have municipal golf courses. Kelowna, as a major tourist and recreation centre, should have a municipal golf course.
Amar(jit) Chadha
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/514253/City-should-buy-golf-course
Oct 21st, 2024 KelownaNow
Your Voice: Is Kelowna’s economy struggling? Heavens, no. We can afford to buy Kelowna Springs
Killing jobs? Hardly!
It has been suggested (Your Voice: Should Kelowna buy a golf course? No – too many families don’t have the luxury of killing jobs) that if the city of Kelowna bought Kelowna Springs to operate it as a municipal golf course (city-owned and operated, as described in my proposal), this could be equated to killing jobs. Quite the opposite. This would open more opportunities for higher paid jobs as Kelowna civic workers have good union positions with benefits and they are generally paid well above a warehouse worker.
Warehouses on this greenspace? Isn’t it better to put warehouses on the land already zoned industrial rather that destroying our greenspace? Why would we do this as the Central Okanagan industrial real estate vacancy jumped 28% in 2023 (Vacancy grows in Central Okanagan as industrial market shifts – Business in Vancouver) (Sept. 10 2024) increasing in Kelowna from 1% four years ago to 4.1% in 2023? If it is accepted that the city needs to preserve its natural beauty for future generations, I am not sure how that would be accomplished by paving over 106 acres of greenspace for industrial use.
Another point brought up is that we need more soccer fields, ice rinks, and multi-use sports facilities such as H20 and the Parkinson Recreational Centre (with a new one estimated at $242 million). The city already provides these as well as tennis courts, pickleball courts, playgrounds, bike paths, linear parks for walking and cycling, swimming pools, etc., and a municipal golf course would provide another sport to add to this wide range of city-supported recreational activities. Not everyone uses the same amenities or plays the same sports.
<img alt=” Photo Courtesy: Kelowna Springs Golf Course” src=”https://imagedelivery.net/rCY_-t_NaBnc_UkEr8yoCA/5acafd78-57b9-4917-4f35-312312a22900/instory”>
Photo Courtesy: Kelowna Springs Golf Course
Let’s recognize that Kelowna Springs is more than a golf course to the city.
- As a municipal golf course, it would not only provide for good-paying jobs, but it would also attract tourists which will support our economy.
- It would continue to provide for stormwater management to protect the adjacent agricultural land and downstream infrastructure such as the Kelowna International Airport, saving the city millions of dollars in natural stormwater management.
- It would continue to provide greenspace with 600 trees which are important for countering climate change.
- It would continue to provide wildlife habitat.
- It would provide an affordable, social, and healthy recreational activity for kids and seniors and those in between for all their lives.
- It could provide year-around public recreation with snowshoeing, crosscountry skiing, dog walking, fresh air outings for families, etc. – a true community asset in a parklike setting.
- As a municipal golf course, it can pay for itself and could provide financial assistance to other recreational facilities in the city.
Is the city’s economy struggling, as suggested? Heavens, no. Kelowna is the fastest-growing city in BC. In fact, the city is operating with an annual surplus of $137 million with an accumulated surplus of $2.5 billion (May 13, 2024). It was pointed out that there was sandbagging along Mill Creek in 2017. It is only logical that paving over this greenspace would result in more sandbagging along Mill Creek than in the 2017 floods. The city should not leave flood protection and stormwater management in the hands of a developer.
The city has allocated $358 million this year for parks so part of this ($30 million or so) can be used to purchase Kelowna Springs.
Finally, it was suggested that “too often” I have advocated for a weaker local economy for our residents. To the contrary. I have advocated for a better quality of life for our residents and financial sensibility. Just because a development creates jobs, doesn’t mean that all projects are good/feasible. Jobs at any cost would be a fool’s philosophy.
Susan Ames
Kelowna
City should buy golf course (see proposal on Kelowna Springs page)
Contributed – Oct 8, 2024 / see link below
The City of Kelowna does not have a municipal (city-owned and operated) golf course, even though Kelowna is considered a top tourist and recreational centre.
A municipal golf course provides affordable recreational opportunities for the general public and is a big draw for visitors to the city, so it greatly adds tourist income.
Kelowna Springs Golf Course has been in operation for more than 30 years, is professionally designed and is walkable so it is used by younger and older golfers and those in between.
The golf course occupies approximately 43 hectares and has natural springs, so it does not rely on municipal water. There are more than 600 trees on the site, which are important for countering climate change and the area is important as a wildlife habitat in both summer and winter.
Kelowna Springs Golf Course also provides huge flood management and protection to city infrastructure. Many cities are now trying to restore waterways and lowlands that have been managed and controlled because of urbanization, to perform natural water management services to reduce flooding and save costs.
As Kelowna Springs Golf Course is a natural flood management site, it reduces flooding of the adjacent agricultural land and infrastructure downstream of Mill Creek, including the Kelowna Airport, which is very important to (the city), residents, and tourism. That saves the city millions of dollars in infrastructure management by providing natural flood protection and reducing damage to adjacent agricultural businesses.
The city is buying land for parks in anticipation of an increased population and so the purchase of Kelowna Springs Golf Course, already laid out and operational would be an easy transition for the city. It is an amenity that pays for itself and could even provide funds for other recreational facilities in Kelowna. It could be used for cross country skiing in the winter.
On Sept.10, the city approved a budget for new parks of $358 million. Some of those funds could be used to purchase Kelowna Springs from the developer. The 2024 City of Kelowna audit report (May 13, 2024) stated the city has a total operating annual surplus of $137 million and an accumulated surplus of $2.5 billion. The city is what one would call “flush.”
The report also states the city is in a “strong” financial position. It can afford this.
The city should engage qualified engineers and hydrologists to determine the value of Kelowna Springs Golf Course for flood protection of city infrastructure and farms so it can be included as a line item in the budget.
In terms of the “need” for industrial land, the Central Okanagan’s industrial real estate vacancy rate jumped 28% (Sept.10), so any new industrial use can be put on existing vacant industrial land.
Kelowna Springs should be purchased by the City of Kelowna as a municipal golf course for many reasons.
Mayor Tom Dyas said if he was elected in 2022, he would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from (becomes home to) warehouses. Most of the other current councillors said they would as well.
Now is the time. (My) proposal is found here: https://susanames.ca/kelowna-springs-golf-course/detailed proposal has been submitted to the city to purchase Kelowna Springs Golf Course as a municipal golf course.
Susan Ames, Kelowna
October 8 2024 Castanet
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/510727/City-should-buy-golf-course
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Kelowna posted Oct 3, 2024 @ 06:00pm by Cheyanna Lorraine
Community activist says city should purchase, run Kelowna Springs as a municipal golf course
It’s been about 16 months since Kelowna City Council agreed to change the zoning of Kelowna Springs Golf Course (KSGC) as private recreational.
Now a community activist, and self-proclaimed “thorn in the side” of city council, is reviving the cause.
The saga of the golf course began in January 2022 when the city adopted the 2040 Official Community Plan, which designated 480 Penno Road as industrial.
By that August, coun. Luke Stack brought forward a motion to change the land use back to private recreation, but it failed. That fall, Vancouver-based Denciti Group purchased the property with plans to develop it into an industrial complex.
<img alt=” Photo Credit: Kelowna Springs” src=”https://www.kelownanow.com/files/files/images/Untitled%20design%20-%202024-08-17T075712_410(1).png”>
Photo Credit: Kelowna Springs
Stack’s motion was brought back in February 2023, this time in front of a newly elected city council.
By March, city council agreed to send the matter, which had garnered a lot of attention and feedback from the community, to a public hearing.
Coun. Stack’s reasons for maintaining the land use as private recreational space ranged from maintaining “large, flat, walkable greenspace” to flood protection in the area.
The land use for the site was eventually changed back to private industrial use in June 2023.
Those sentiments are echoed in Susan Ames’ latest proposal that suggests the city should purchase the site and run it as a municipal golf course.
Ames ran in the 2022 election and is a community activist involved in several initiatives, including efforts to reject redevelopment plans of the Parkinson Recreation Centre and protecting the city’s heritage areas.
Her most recent cause was emailed to local media and posted to her website.
“The only way to save KSGC and keep this amenity is to purchase it from the developer,” says Ames’ proposal.
“It is time for Kelowna to have its own municipal golf course that provides public recreation that is already built, a tourism draw, a green site, and an amenity that also and importantly provides natural flood management which saves the city millions of dollars.”
She says making the course a municipal one would provide flood management, maintain an affordable and walkable course for residents and tourists and protect wildlife habitat.
Ames says Kelowna Springs has its own water source so it doesn’t require municipal irrigation and points to a 28% vacancy rate in industrial real estate “so there is no need to damage important green space for such a use.”
“Kelowna Springs would be a city amenity that generates funds for the city while still providing for flood protection of the city’s amenities,” Ames’ proposal says.
She also claims that purchasing the 106 acre site for $30 million would be a better value than the recent purchase of the 1.8 acre Truswell property for $18 million.
Ames says she has forwarded her proposal to city council but it is unclear if, or when, this would be reviewed by city staff or make its way to city council.
The long-term plan for KSGC will see it transition to and operate as a nine-hole course for the 2025 season.
An announcement made in August 2024 by the Play Golf Kelowna collective said “Denciti has committed to work on a long-term lease for a nine-hole golf course with a new operator.”
If Kelowna had its own municipal golf course, it would have a positive effect on families
KelownaNow Oct 8, 2024
In addition to the environmental importance of the Kelowna Springs Golf Club (KS), its value as a golf course is also important. Golf is very popular, and people pay $100,000, $200,000 and much more to belong to golf clubs. Obviously they are getting plenty of pleasure and benefit, be it physical, social, economic, so why can’t we, as a city, provide benefit to the folks at the other end of the economic scale, middle and low income.
My advice to city officials is to buy Kelowna Springs, establish an economic model whereby adult residents can pay $40 and kids less so we have a tremendous facility for the pleasure of all residents.
The Kelowna planning department favours the destruction of the golf course, to be replaced by warehouses. Forget about human benefit, surrounding agricultural benefit, ecological benefit, let’s just store STUFF and pay workers minimum wage to move it all around.
Planning staff downplays the environmental importance of the land, and the adjacent wetland. They are not to be trusted as evidenced by a couple of examples.
<img alt=” Photo credit: Kelowna Springs” src=”https://www.kelownanow.com/files/files/images/kelownasprings.png”>
Photo credit: Kelowna Springs
Firstly there is the UBCO debacle where developers were given the green light by staff all through the approval process and beyond while knowing the soil conditions, and ignoring several warnings on the construction process used after work began. Their chief engineer merely said “crap happens” as surrounding buildings were being damaged, with one entire new residential building having to be evacuated.
The second example is the Heritage Area which is on a flood plain according to the city, limiting what can be placed in crawl spaces of homes in that area. However, for developers of large apartment buildings the area is not considered a flood plain by city planners, so they can build at will.
Planning staff opinion appears strongly biased towards developers and we must do everything we can to protect and improve our quality of life.
A round of golf at a typical 18 hole, full length course (other than KS and Shadow Ridge, the latter to be part of the airport) costs $150-185 and $80 for juniors, so an adult wanting to play with two kids will pay $310+GST for an afternoon of golf. With a municipal course priced right we could have the same family paying about $80. That would open up individual and family activity for so many more of our residents.
What a positive impact it would have on their lives.
Don Henderson
Kelowna
Kelowna Springs Municipal Golf Course Proposal – “The Next Chapter”
Prepared by Dr. Susan Ames, October 3, 2024
Introduction
The city of Kelowna does not have a municipal golf course even though Kelowna is considered a top tourist and recreational centre. Most cities and towns have municipal golf courses-even Prince Albert, Saskatchewan with a population of 37,000, has one. Big cities like Vancouver have several.
The benefits of a municipal golf course are numerous. They provide affordable recreational opportunities for the general public and are a big draw for visitors to the city so greatly add tourist income. The Kelowna Springs Golf Course (KSGC) “is” a perfect municipal golf course.
Kelowna Springs Golf Course is not only important for the public but it provides huge flood management/protection during wetter years such as in 2017 (Plate 1). Many cities are now trying to restore waterways and lowlands that have been managed/controlled because of urbanization, to perform natural water management services to reduce flooding and save costs. As KSGC is a natural flood management site, it reduces flooding of the adjacent agricultural land and infrastructure downstream of Mill Creek including the Kelowna Airport which is very important to Kelowna, the residents, and tourism. This saves the city of Kelowna millions of dollars in infrastructure management by providing natural flood protection and costs associated with agricultural losses. It is essentially flood insurance.
Plate 1. Kelowna Springs Golf course flooded in 2017.
The following is a brief description of Kelowna Springs golf course, important environmental information related to the golf course, a recent and ongoing threat to the golf course and its natural flood management services. The last part describes the proposal for the city to purchase it from the developer to protect the city from infrastructure flooding and to serve the public and tourism industry at the same time.
Kelowna Springs Golf Course Design and History
Kelowna Springs Golf Course has been operating for over 30 years and is well known locally as a very walkable golf course for all ages from 10 to 85 years and more! In 2023, 60,000 rounds were played. It is advertised as a top golf course with a club house and great restaurant for the 19th hole for breakfast or dinner or…(Kelowna Springs website 2024). The clubhouse and restaurant are located in the southwestern corner of the property.
“If you’re looking for a great round of golf in Kelowna, BC, look no further than Kelowna Springs Golf Club. Designed by renowned Canadian golf course architect Les Furber, our course has garnered accolades from both the press and golfers of all abilities since first opening in 1990.” (KSGC website 2024).
Okanagan Life Magazine recognizes Kelowna Springs as “the second best ‘Readers Choice’ golf course in Kelowna”. Dreamscapes Travel Magazine (Globe & Mail) recognizes Kelowna Springs as “one of 6 ‘play the best for less gems’ across Canada”. Golf for Women magazine once rated Kelowna Springs “the top semi-private course in Canada.”
The golf course is not only full length but it is incredibly popular because it is a walkable course so suitable for young and old alike and more affordable for the public as a cart is not required. Several golf courses in Kelowna have disappeared with new ones located high on the hills such as Tower Ranch and Sunset Ranch which are not walkable and require a cart.
Kelowna Springs Golf Course was managed for 30 years by the same family. The family retired and there is a new owner as of October 2022.
Environmental Setting
The Kelowna Springs Golf Course (KSGC) area was previously agricultural land in the ALR. (Golf courses were originally allowed within the ALR but this use was stopped because changing uses on golf course land were frequently having negative impacts on the adjacent agricultural land by interfering with agricultural operations, reducing the agricultural capability from runoff or groundwater flow, on noise related issues, and in setting a precedent for nonfarm use on agricultural land).
KSGC occupies a rectangular area of approximately 43 hectares (106 ac). It is bordered on the north, east, south, and the northern half of the western boundary, by agricultural land. The agricultural land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) (Plate 2). Although the golf course represents an intrusion in terms of use into the ALR, the golf course is green space and it offers a seamless buffer to the surrounding agricultural land.
Plate 2. The Kelowna Springs Golf Course is surrounded by agricultural land in the ALR (green shading).
The land to the west of the golf course is a designated wetland (Simpson’s Pond) and being designated, it requires special consideration because it is environmentally sensitive. It supports wetland vegetation and provides habitat for a variety of amphibians, insects and birds. Groundwater flows down hill from the upland to the east, under the agricultural land along the eastern boundary as well as the agricultural land to the north and south, under the golf course and to the wetland. There is a contiguous and continuous underground water flow system below all of this land, which has been in place for the last 10,000 years.
The KSGC includes seven ponds that provide wildlife habitat and water to irrigate the golf course so it is a closed system, not requiring municipal water to irrigate it. Most golf courses in the Okanagan and in other jurisdictions require off-site water for irrigation so the KSCG is unique in that regard making it more environmentally self-sufficient water wise and sustainable. Because the wetland is adjacent to KSGC’s western boundary, the westerly flowing water under KSGC replenishes the wetland. They are connected through the groundwater.
There are over 600 trees roughly 35 years old on the site (Plates 3 and 4). These trees are in their prime for sequestering carbon which is important in countering climate change. The soils, grasses, and trees are important as carbon sinks. The trees, shrubs and grasses release oxygen and take up carbon dioxide. The trees provide a cool environment during the summer as well as wildlife habitat and shade for both humans and wildlife.
Plate 3. Over 600 trees occur on Kelowna Springs Golf Course.
Plate 4. Numerous evergreen and deciduous trees on the site.
The golf course is also important as wildlife habitat summer and winter. It is the home and a resting place for numerous wildlife including Blue Heron (Plate 5) bald eagles and hawks (Plate 6), ducks (Plate 7), turtles, geese, numerous bird species, deer, coyotes, etc.
Plate 5. Blue heron on the site.
Plate 6. Hawk on the site.
Plate 7. Winter habitat for ducks.
In summary, the KSGC is an important green space in Kelowna as it provides a buffer to the surrounding agricultural land, does not rely on municipal water for irrigation so it is water wise, and it is closely interconnected to the adjacent wetland. It is heavily treed and vegetated which is important for countering climate change and it provides both summer and winter wildlife habitat.
Temporary Threat to Kelowna Springs Golf Course
The long-time owner approached a Kelowna city councillor about changing the land use of the golf course from private recreational to industrial to provide. The councillor turned over this request to city staff who met with the owner and supported this change. The staff then changed the land use designation on the future Land Use Map of the 2040 OCP. The map was soon signed off before the 2040 OCP was written and so it became part of the 2040 OCP. The 2040 OCP was signed off by Mayor Basran and the Kelowna City Council in January 2022.
Shortly after, the public got wind of this change and sent in a request to the Mayor and Councillors to reverse this back to private recreational because of the loss of an affordable, walkable golf course, the environmental and social/public benefits of the golf course, and the impact on the adjacent agricultural land and farm operations. The municipal election was slated for October 15, 2022. In August 2022, the motion to reverse the land use designation came before council. Mayor Basran and three councillors voted to leave as it was on the map as industrial. Four councillors voted to return it to private recreational park to save the golf course. One councillor abstained.
The vote failed as it was a tie. By this time, the fate of Kelowna Springs Golf Course became a major election issue. Mayor Dyas, a leading candidate for Mayor, said on his website (July 26, 2022 Tom Dyas will fight to save Kelowna Springs — Tom Dyas) that if elected, he would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from warehouses. ‘Residents have told me that they expect their next Mayor to fight to save Kelowna Springs, and that’s what I will do.” He said Kelowna can’t afford to keep losing golf courses and cited the loss of Central Park Golf Club and Fairview Golf course to development as previous examples of this happening. He said Shadow Ridge Golf Club will soon be lost to an inevitable airport expansion while Michael Brook could one day become baseball fields. He said we have to be extremely thoughtful, so we don’t erode the amenities and lifestyle that have led people to call Kelowna home. This was very welcome by the public. As well, several of the council candidates also said they supported saving KSGC.
Despite this strong support to save the golf course and it being a major election issue, a developer who wanted to convert the golf course to industrial use bought it (October 2022) anyway just before the election.
As we know, Mayor Dyas won and 3 out of the 4 that voted in August to keep it as industrial were not elected. The future land use designation of Kelowna Springs was changed back to private recreational at a public meeting held in June 2023 in a vote 8 to 1.
This was a long public hearing – over 4 hours long and filled with the public and they spoke one after the other. An engineer spoke about the importance of KSGC land as critical for flood management. In 2017, KSGC flooded resulting in a 50-acre lake on the property. The engineer estimated that KSGC land holds 460,000 m3 of water. If converted to industrial land, this storage would be lost so where would this water go? A structure 500 m x 500 mx 2m would be required to store this water. Farmers spoke how the fill required would interfere with groundwater and surface flow and flood their properties. These are businesspeople and their businesses/livelihood would be at risk as well as their homes, from flooding. The fill height would also tower metres above their property with warehouse buildings on top of that.
One person traced the history with air photos. In 1984, all of the land was farmland. In 1985, the golf course was developed as well as a small pocket of industrial land at the southwestern boundary of KSGC at North Road. Pockets of a wetland were starting to appear with the encroachment of industrial land use. By 2009, the wetland (Simpson’s Pond), was fully established, and the only change was an increase in industrial development along Ackland Road. By 2021, the rest of Ackland Road was developed for industrial use and the area north of Simpson’s Ponds was starting to flood. The industrial land use at North Road and Ackland Road caused Simpson’s Pond to develop and the area north of it to flood as the fill interferes with groundwater movement. This is what happens in this floodplain with industrial use.
Some talked about the role of the 600 trees as important for countering climate change by producing oxygen and taking up carbon dioxide. Some talked about the recent practice of municipalities to include the role of natural flood management such as Kelowna Springs Golf Course, as a line item in the municipal budget. The value is determined by what it would cost if this flood management is not in place. The article from an accounting magazine (Pivot CPA May/June 2023) quoted Bailey Church, leader of KPMG’s National Public Sector Accounting Advisory Committee who stated that not considering placing a value on the often invisible services nature provides as a fiscal “time bomb” for municipalities. From this same article, a study released in August 2022 found that if the Grindstone watershed collapsed, Hamilton and Burlington would need to spend $2 billion on stormwater infrastructure to protect local homes and farms from flooding. This is the kind of accounting that is currently being done in other places and shows the value of natural water management.
Some talked about the future scenarios where we would have more floods with climate change and keeping KSGC is critical. Some spoke about coming to play golf there in the 80’s, then bringing their children and now bringing their grandchildren to golf. Some talked about the importance of saving this large track of recreational land to keep people active and healthy. Some talked about the wildlife. Some talked about its importance for tourism. Some mentioned the city’s priorities of protecting environmentally sensitive land and to protect and restore natural areas, about enhanced climate emergency planning and response programming. Some talked about the future generations and increase in population so the future generations will need recreational spaces – not less space than now. Buy it for the city and something the city can take pride in. Some farmers said that even though this would affect their business, they were not consulted. “It was a rash and underhanded procedure to change this (to industrial land use) without extensive public input”. “Don’t turn this into a Walmart”. The farmers can’t come up against the developer’s lawyers. Some said quality of life is important. Many said it should be a municipal golf course and to pay the developer $30 M or so (as that is what he apparently paid for it). Some said the developer was a seasoned developer and should have known the difference between the OCP and zoning. He took a calculated risk.
The developer at the public hearing proposed to fill the back nine part of the golf course for industrial use, which would come up adjacent to the farms on the north, all along the eastern boundary, and along the southern boundary, and keep the front 9 as a golf course. One of the speakers noted that this would still flood the farms on the east, north and southern boundaries as well as downstream of the golf course. Further, the filled area would result in flooding the 9 holes.
One farmer had gone around to all the other farmers in the area and the industrial lands to sign a petition which showed their support for keeping KSGC. As well, there was an on-line petition which had in the order of 5,300 signatures. The city clerk said they received the most correspondence that the city had ever received on this, and the councillors said the same. The public had spoken.
As Councillor Luke Stack said to his fellow councillors before the vote:
- Do it for the citizens
- Do it for the trees
- Do it to preserve green space
- Do it to protect the neighbouring wetlands and the animals and bird species
- Do it to protect the surrounding farmlands
- Do it to protect the floodplain
- Do it to offset climate change
- Do it for the city’s future
All but one councillor voted to reverse the land use designation back to Private Recreational. The vote was 8:1. The public, the golfers, the farmers, and all breathed a sigh of relief. The “error” was corrected.
Proposal for Kelowna Springs Golf Course as a Municipal Golf Course
As noted, before the election, Tom Dyas said “as Mayor”, he would “fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from being turned into warehouses”. As noted above, he stated “Leadership is about making difficult choices, and while we must plan for the growth Kelowna is going through, we have to be extremely thoughtful so that we don’t erode the amenities and lifestyles that have led people to call Kelowna home in the first place. Residents have told me that they expect their next Mayor to fight to save Kelowna Springs, and that’s what I will do.” Tom Dyas gave the public a promise to fight to save KSGC from warehouses and recognized the importance of the amenities and lifestyles of the people who call Kelowna home. He was voted Mayor in October 2022.
As noted above, the developer who purchased KSGC is not a golf course operator. He paid the original owner about $30M which is higher than the assessed value so now it is an unreasonable cost for a future golf course operator to take over. Because of this, the only way to save KSGC and keep this amenity is to purchase it from the developer. It is time for Kelowna to have its own municipal golf course that provides public recreation that is already built, a tourism draw, a green site, and an amenity that also and importantly provides natural flood management which saves the city millions of dollars. How can the city not agree to this?
The following is a brief description of the value of a municipal golf course, the flood management benefits, and the economic/financial considerations.
Municipal Golf Course: Where Community Recreation and the Environment Converge
Municipal golf courses (courses managed by the municipality) are more than just patches of green where golfers swing clubs. They are active communal spaces that foster social cohesiveness, provide accessible recreation, and offer significant health and environmental advantages. These courses play a significant role in creating a sense of community and belonging while also contributing to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of people. Golf is a low impact sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and ability levels, making it an excellent activity for families, elders, and children. Walking the route encourages physical activity and cardiovascular fitness, which helps to create a healthy lifestyle and Kelowna Springs is a walkable golf course. The tranquil and natural setting of such courses also provides a mental break from the stresses of everyday life, encouraging relaxation and lowering anxiety. They are essential community assets, supporting the confluence of community and recreation for future generations.
Municipal golf courses play an important role in making recreational options available to people who may not have access to private country clubs or pricey sporting facilities. These courses ensure that golf remains an option for a larger part of the public by offering low-cost green fees and equipment rentals. Families, adolescents, elders, and people from all walks of life can all enjoy this recreational activity without budgetary restraints. They are also important entry points to the game. Eighty four percent of all golfers in Canada are public players. In an article from 2016, Scott Simmons CEO Golf Canada states “that that municipal golf courses have been the conduit for close to 5.7 million golfers playing close to 60 million rounds annually making golf the most participated sport in this country”.
Municipal golf courses have a significant economic influence on the communities they serve, in addition to their social and recreational value. Green fees, equipment rentals, pro shop sales, and food and beverage services provide money for these courses. Golf courses also draw tourists from outside the area, which helps the local tourism and hospitality sectors and the economy. They pay green fees (generally a bit more than residents) but the tourists also stay in hotels, go to restaurants, and visit the local shops. The tourists benefit, the small businesses benefit, the residents/public benefit, and the city benefits. A win, win, win, win!
How important are municipal golf courses? Forty nine percent of all golf courses around the city of London are government owned, while 17% of all golf courses in the USA are municipal. There are 13 municipal golf courses within 20 km of Surrey, BC (74 Golf Courses near Surrey, BC – Public & Private | GolfLink). Campbell River, BC has a municipal golf course and it has a population of 37,000. Kelowna has a population of 150,000 and doesn’t have a municipal golf course.
In addition to golf, these courses frequently hold a variety of community events, tournaments, and fundraisers, strengthening their status as community gathering places. These venues are also commonly used by local schools and groups for charitable events and youth programs, encouraging a sense of community engagement. They are often used for cross country skiing in the winter.
As noted above, Kelowna Springs is a rare golf course as it has its own water source so doesn’t need municipal water as the other golf courses in the area require. Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course sued (June 17, 2022) the city of Kelowna over a hike in water fees.
Kelowna Springs is scenic, supports wildlife and trees, is walkable, and as well, it is well used by the residents of Kelowna and tourists. It is used by young and old and those in between. It would be a municipal golf course that the city could be immensely proud of. Photos of the course, noting it is a municipal course, could be featured in much of the city’s promotional advertising.
As a municipal golf course, it is an already built recreational facility that also generates income to cover the cost of maintenance and management so it will be a lucrative city asset. In 2023, 60,000 rounds of golf were played at KSGC. These included the residents of Kelowna but as Councillor Maxine DeHart said, she sent visitors staying at the Ramada Hotel to KSGC to play golf. Municipal course green fees are set at a reasonable price. For example, weekend fees at Burnaby Mountain Municipal Golf Course are $57 on weekends and $46 during the week. This kind of fee for a municipal course makes golfing a very affordable activity for the citizens. This is less than 1/2 the price of Tower Ranch at $179/round which automatically includes a cart and Sunset Ranch at $125 which also automatically includes a cart. As noted previously, being walkable, the cost of a cart at approximately $25 is eliminated which is another bonus of KSGC as a municipal golf course. At 60,000 rounds annually, Kelowna Springs would generate $4,000,000 per year. This could be a break even amount or even provide additional funds for other recreational activities in the city.
The city provides parks, tennis courts, kids playgrounds, dog runs, basketball courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, etc., free of charge and community centres with pools for the public. A municipal golf course is just as necessary and beneficial. The city is buying land for parks in anticipation of an increased population and so the purchase of Kelowna Springs Golf Course, already laid out, operational, with a clubhouse, with the equipment included, would be an easy transition for the city. It is an amenity that pays for itself and at $30 M it is a bargain for 106 ac especially considering its natural flood protection and all of the other amenities. The city just purchased (Dec. 2023) 1.8 acres of land from a private owner for $18 M, which is more than half of the price of Kelowna Springs Golf Course but for 1/60th of the land size. The new park on Truswell has a residence that has to be removed and the site has to be cleared and then the park amenities constructed so it will cost the city more than $18 M. The city calls this new purchase a legacy property for the enjoyment of the public. For $12M more the city can purchase an additional 104 acres that is already well used and valued by the citizens and would be a legacy for the city. The new Parkinson Rec Centre will cost north of $263 M so $30 M for this large amenity is a bargain. As Tom Dyas said about saving Kelowna Springs, “we have to be extremely thoughtful so that we don’t erode the amenities and lifestyles that have led people to call Kelowna home in the first place” The city also has DCCs for such purchases as well as other funds.
Flood Protection and Economics
As noted above, the purchase of Kelowna Springs Golf Course as a municipal golf course also provides flood protection downstream of Mill Creek which is worth millions of dollars in flood protection savings. Currently, the city is already spending millions on flood protection on Mill Creek. The Mill Creek Flood Protection Project is a multi-year, multi-million-dollar initiative to improve the creek corridor and reduce flooding potential throughout the city, from the Kelowna Airport to Okanagan Lake. As part of that project, improvements have been made to a concrete diversion structure located next to the Okanagan Rail Trail east of Dilworth Drive. The diversion structure redirects a portion of flood flows to Mission Creek via a concrete box culvert. The diversion sends water from Mill Creek, through an eight-foot by eight-foot concrete pipe along Leckie Road, into Mission Creek. The project slows the water in Mill Creek and helps reduce debris jams. The original diversion did the same thing. The problem was it was under capacity for some of the high flows that have been seen in the last 20-30 years (May 5, 2022, Flood Mitigation Put to Use – New Mill Creek diversion project put into use overnight as rain falls):
“This climate change factor, where we’re seeing higher flows more consistently, basically led to this structure being unsafe to operate, or difficult for staff to operate. So we’ve made some pretty significant upgrades here.” (Rod Mclean, city of Kelowna). “Flooding will always be a problem, but the improvements here will reduce some of the ‘flashiness’ of the system. Over the past several years, particularly in the springs of 2017, 2018 and 2020, Mill Creek has seen periods of significant flooding which has damaged homes and city infrastructure.” Rod Maclean, city of Kelowna says the new project will help ease the spikes in streamflows that have been seen in the past.
Although the city has been working on flood mitigation projects along Mill Creek for the past three years, the work is expected to continue for the next four. In 2019, the federal government announced $22 million in grant funding for the work on Mill Creek, through the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund. The total cost of the work is expected to cost $55 million. This is a lot of money and it indicates how much man made flood protection costs. The cost will be way north of $55 M if Kelowna Springs is lost to industrial development. As well, keeping Kelowna Springs will protect the airport infrastructure. Kelowna council gave the green light for a $90 M airport expansion (March 2023) so protection of the airport at $30 m is well worth it. If the city can spend an additional $90 M on the airport, it can spend $30 M to protect it.
On September 10, 2024, the city just approved a budget for new parks of $358 M so these funds are available to purchase Kelowna Springs from the developer. If he refuses, Kelowna Springs can be expropriated because of its importance for flood management which is costly for the city.
The 2024 City of Kelowna audit report (May 13, 2024) stated that there is total operating annual surplus of $137M and an accumulated surplus of $2.5 Billion so the city is what one would call flush. The report states “the city is in a strong financial position”. It states that as the net cashflows increase, more cash can be spent on capitol projects and also reinvested. Part of this can be used to purchase Kelowna Springs.
The city should engage qualified engineers/hydrologists to determine the value of KSGC flood protection of city infrastructure and farms such that it can be included as a line item in the budget to ensure protection by and awareness of the importance of KSGC now and in the future. The city has been forewarned by the various speakers at the public hearing in June 2023 as occurred with a recent public hearing in Kelowna for which the project (UBCO tower) proceeded, despite the warnings. This resulted in extensive damage to surrounding buildings and the displacement of people with damage in many millions of dollars and the generation of lawsuits which include the city of Kelowna. Better decisions can be made by those who are qualified engineers and the like. The potential damage to the city infrastructure and agricultural operations should not be risked and the costs and impacts would be prohibitive.
At the same time as providing natural flood management and protection to the city infrastructure and agricultural operations, the city has the opportunity to have a municipal golf course that will provide a great public amenity, will be a legacy for the city, and attract tourists from inside and outside of BC.
In terms of “the need” for industrial land, the Central Okanagan’s industrial real estate vacancy rate jumped 28% (September 10, 2024) so any new industrial use can be put on existing vacant industrial land and stay off ‘green’ floodplain land. Floodplains are now well recognized as environmentally important and sensitive to disturbance and this area is particularly critical as it is surrounded by agricultural land.
Summary
Kelowna Springs should be purchased by the City of Kelowna as a municipal golf course:
- It is good value for $30 M or so, to provide flood management for the city’s infrastructure including the airport and the surrounding farmland. Natural flood management by Kelowna Springs is worth many millions of dollars and is substantially less expensive than man made flood management.
- It is a good value for $30 M for 106 ac compared to other city purchases such at the recent Trustwell property of 1.8 ac for a park at $18 plus additional costs for park preparation. Kelowna Springs does not require any additional costs as it is already an operating golf course.
- Kelowna Springs would provide an affordable and walkable course for the people of Kelowna and tourists who also spend money on accommodation, restaurants, shops and other amenities.
- Kelowna Springs has its own water source so does not require municipal water for irrigation.
- The Central Okanagan’s industrial real estate vacancy rate jumped 28% (September 10, 2024) so there is no need to damage important green space for such a use.
- Kelowna Springs provides for many environmental benefits such as wildlife habitat, has 600 trees which are important for wildlife habitat, shade and cooling for the wildlife and golfers, and are important for countering climate change.
- Kelowna Springs would be a city amenity that generates funds for the city while still providing for flood protection of the city’s amenities.
- The 2024 City of Kelowna audit report (May 13, 2024) stated that there is total operating annual surplus of $137M and an accumulated surplus of $2.5 Billion so the city is in excellent financial health so can afford to purchase KSGC.
- The City of Kelowna approved a budget for new parks of $358 M so $30 M or so is affordable in terms of a new public amenity.
- The City of Kelowna should hire a qualified engineer/hydrologist to assess the natural flood management value of KSGC and have it as a line item in the budget as is a recent accounting practice.
- The City of Kelowna cannot afford to not purchase/expropriate Kelowna Springs because of the natural provisions provided by Kelowna Springs on-going flood protection for the city.
Tom Dyas in his election campaign said, “Kelowna can’t afford to keep losing golf courses” and he cited the loss of Central Park Golf Club and Fairview Golf course to development as previous examples of this happening. He said, “We have to be extremely thoughtful, so we don’t erode the amenities and lifestyle that have led people to call Kelowna home”. He said he would fight to save Kelowna Springs Golf Course from warehouses (industrial use) if elected and he was elected. Now is the time to save Kelowna Springs by the city purchasing it for all the reasons Mayor Dyas stated, Councillor Stack stated, the other councillors stated, and those people who wrote, signed the petitions, attended and spoke at the public hearing in June 2023 stated – for the protection of the city and farmland, for the public, for climate change and more.
Please write to the Mayor and Councillors about this (please use their individual email addresses)
Susan Ames Sustainability Group 
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