Penticton council approves student housing project | News

Construction of a large-scale student housing project on the Okanagan College Penticton campus is expected to begin next spring after city council approved a zoning amendment bylaw at its most recent meeting.

Council approved the first three readings of a zoning amendment bylaw that will allow for on-campus student housing.

For the first time in its history, Okanagan College Penticton students will have a place to call home and they will be able to access affordable, on-campus housing with the provincial government announcing this month $23.5 million in funding to construct a 101-bed student housing project.

The college will provide the final $500,000 in funding for the $24-million project that will see 101 student beds in 89 units.

As part of the province’s Homes for People Action Plan, more than $2 billion has been allocated towards developing 12,000 student beds on campuses across the province.

As part of this plan, Okanagan College Penticton was awarded funding to construct a student housing building with 101 student beds in 89 units.

The announcement was made in early summer, with construction scheduled to start in early spring.

This funding approval follows 8,230 student beds complete and underway across the province, including similar projects at Okanagan College campuses in Kelowna, Vernon and Salmon Arm.

During a presentation to council, planner Yvonne Mitchell said student housing was not permitted in the previous zoning, but a site-specific zoning bylaw amendment was requested, she said.

There will be 79 bachelor units, four accessible dwelling units, three two-bedroom units and three, four-bedroom units, she said.

There will be bicycle racks, electric vehicle charging stations and will be built in close proximity to public transit access, she said.

More than 100 notices were mailed out to property owners located within 100 metres of the subject property and no letters of opposition were received relating to the student housing project, she said.

A proposed one parking stall per five beds is similar to what’s in place at other community college campuses across the province, she said.

The proximity of public transportation also supports the staff recommendation for one parking spot for every five beds built, she said.

Staff unanimously supported the first three readings of the zoning bylaw amendment proposal.

Staff will pass the bylaw once the building permit is issued to begin construction.

During a press conference in early July announcing the new student housing project, Roly Russell, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development speaking on behalf of Lisa Beare, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, said this new student housing initiative is crucial for the future of Okanagan College and the City of Penticton.

“If there’s opportunities for us to lower those barriers for students and make education more accessible … that’s the task for the provincial government,” Russell said. “If I can speak on behalf of Minister Beare, that’s the task she sees as her mandate to make education more accessible and affordable.”

The project is another step forward by the provincial government towards building 12,000 student beds across the province through the Home for People action plan, said Russell.

Secure, stable and affordable housing is designed to help students thrive, while also reducing demand on the local market for student housing, said Russell.

Having more housing available to Okanagan College’s Penticton campus will allow more students to access education with fewer barriers and will help build a brighter future for the college and its students for generations to come, he said.

Okanagan College has three projects opening this fall on other campuses in this region, including a 216-bed project in Kelowna, a 60-bed project in Salmon Arm and 100-bed project on the Vernon campus, he said. To date, more than 8,200 student housing beds are complete or underway.

With provincial funding already allocated, Russell said the goal is to have the new student housing complex in Penticton fully constructed and ready to open in late summer or early fall of 2025.

Okanagan College president Neil Fassina said having an affordable place to live and the supports that come with student housing is going to provide immeasurable benefits for students across this region who want to attend the Penticton campus.

“Who we are here for today is our students,” he said. “Today’s announcement is transformational for us. It is now our last major campus within our system to be granted a student housing complex.

“When you consider there are over 20 communities that are serviced in our region, being able to put that fourth student housing complex in Penticton here really opens up the southern Interior for us at Okanagan College.”

Offering student housing will allow learners from Osoyoos, Oliver, Princeton, the Boundary region and beyond to be able to move to Penticton and access a safe and affordable home during their studies at the college, he said.

“We truly want to be able to offer students a choice to choose us for their learning journeys,” he said.

Student housing allows those living on campus the comfort of feeling safe, he said.

“It’s that one spot we can go and actually take a deep breath and be able to sit back, relax and not worry,” said Fassina.

Fassina thanked the provincial government for supporting the college and students across this region as these on-campus housing projects are going to ensure the various Okanagan College campuses thrive for many years to come.

Penticton Mayor Julius Bloomfield said the announcement for student housing in Penticton is great news for the college and city.

“It’s a super exciting announcement,” the mayor said. “We’ve been waiting a long time for this. As with any city, a college is a key to the social vibrancy of the city and its economic success.”

While the college has provided wonderful educational opportunities for many years, “It has been lacking a piece” and adding 100 student beds is crucial moving forward, he said.

The city hasn’t been asked to contribute financially to this project, but the city’s development services department has been pushing for student housing at the Penticton campus for many years, said Bloomfield.

“We’ve been working long and hard with the college on various options that has finally resulted in this announcement,” he said. “This was just one of the options that was on the table and I can tell you this process has been long and intense.”

Current student Metin Huseyinglu, a second-year kinesiology student in Penticton, said he’s enjoyed his time at the college. However, he and many other fellow students have had to struggle with finding adequate and affordable housing.

“While my experience has been positive, it has been a struggle to find appropriate housing. I’m currently looking for a place to stay that is close to the Penticton campus and will allow me to focus on my studies.

“Today, I’m so excited to hear about this announcement for Penticton campus. Having housing for students here will make an incredible difference to the students’ education. Being able to live on campus will allow future students the ability to focus and not have to worry about where they’re going to live and eventually become part of the next generation of workers.”