Public Hearing

Minutes

Meeting #:

Date:

Tuesday, November 04, 2025 at 6:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Location:

City of Penticton, Council Chambers

171 Main Street, Penticton, B.C.

Council Present:

• Mayor Bloomfield
• Councillor Watt
• Councillor Graham
• Councillor Gilbert
• Councillor Reynen
• Councillor Stewart

Council Absent:

• Councillor Miller

Staff Present:

• Anthony Haddad, City Manager
• Angie Collison, Corporate Officer
• Angela Campbell, General Manager of Corporate Services
• Kristen Dixon, General Manager of Infrastructure
• Blake Laven, General Manager of Development Services
• Kelsey Johnson, General Manager of Community Services
• Paula McKinnon, Deputy Corporate Officer

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1.

Mayor Calls Public Hearing to Order

The Mayor called the Public Hearing to order at 6:00 p.m. for Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2025-34 (698 Eckhardt Avenue West).

2.

Opening Statement and Introduction of Bylaw

2.1

Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2025-34 (698 Eckhardt Avenue West)

To amend Zoning Bylaw No. 2024-22 as follows:

Rezone Lot 1 District Lot 2 Group 7 Similkameen Division Yale (Formerly Yale Lytton) District Plan 1655 Except Plan 36620, located at 698 Eckhardt Avenue West, from M1 (General Industrial) to C4 (General Commercial).

The applicant is requesting to rezone the property to facilitate the development of a restaurant with a floor area exceeding 360m² in size.

Notice:

Pursuant to the Local Government Act the Public Hearing was advertised on Friday, October 24, 2025 and Friday, October 31, 2025 in an online news source and the newspaper.

Submissions: 6 letters have been received regarding the Zoning Amendment Bylaw (as of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 4, 2025).

3.

Overview of Proposed Bylaw by Development Services Staff

4.

Invitation to Applicant for Comment or Elaboration on the Application

5.

Opportunity to Speak to Council

The Mayor asked the public for the first time if anyone wished to speak to the application.

• Lori Goldman (via Zoom), Dauphin Ave, wrote letter to council, concerned about climate, no restrictions on drive-thrus in commercial areas but still need to consider climate action plan approved by Council. Must reduce emissions by 40% by 2023 and 100% by 2050. Drive-thrus are bad in all seasons for emissions, harmful to our health and planet. Really need to think of city and how we're creating it, keep children safe, our responsibility as community and Council. People can park and walk in to get their coffee, don't need a drive-thru. Great message to send we won't do this anymore even though McDonalds might want this, old way of thinking, we can be creative and move forward.
• Avril Torrence, Edmonton Avenue, wrote letter asking consider three factors, first one already addressed, second issue is traffic but understands will be addressed through MOTT, third is issue around north gateway, appreciates existing drive-thrus are already in place for that area. Person who wrote and said Penticton is a walkable community, believes this strongly, how to make a city liveable for all ages, wish council would think about the kind of community they want to have in future, her story involves walking to a Vees game, walk all the time, lots of traffic issues in vicinity, go early and there was nowhere to eat in advance of hockey game. Proposed a locally owned and vibrant restaurant on that same site, doesn't undisputed site needs to be redeveloped, agrees, real opportunity, absolute necessity for people who want to make Vees games as part of their night, WHL makes this more important for that region.
• Lilit Houlder (via Zoom), Planner with Arcadis, applicant representative for file, team has put in a lot of time and effort to ensure overall site walkability is continues from sidewalks to front door of establishment, have continuous pedestrian paths on throughout site. Have procured traffic impact assessment, will be reviewed by administration during development permit stage, study finds no significant negative impacts to surrounding site, sent initial application to MOTT, responded they don't have great concerns, just wanted to consider the right in and right out towards Eckhardt Avenue. McDonalds uses side-by-side drivebys, have two order screens, can order simultaneously, order process reduces idling time and wait time for vehicles, gets cars through site efficiently.
• Mayor Bloomfield, inquired if a clearer schematic was available for viewing.
• Lilit Houlder (via Zoom), Planner with Arcadis, applicant representative for file, shared and explained site plan. Clarified people can exit and enter from Eckhardt Avenue which will be a right in and right out only and also access to and from Pacific Avenue.

The Mayor asked the public for the second time if anyone wished to speak to the application. 

• Lori Goldman (via Zoom), Dauphin Ave, understands not as many emissions when have more lanes, doesn't matter if less than standard, emissions will exist regardless of system efficiently, emissions are emissions, people can park car and walk into restaurant, drive through restaurant is a model, not something set in stone, make our city safer and healthier by reducing emissions.
• Len Vandervart, Edmonton Avenue, excited about redevelopment of north entrance to city because currently is a speedway, HWY 97 is part of city limits, strikes me that goal is to attract more people into City but would suggest that fast food place at edge of town encourages people to stop there instead of exploring other food providers available in city.

The Mayor asked the public for the third and final time if anyone wished to speak to the application.

• Avril Torrence, Edmonton Avenue asked applicant about data on existing McDonalds drive-thrus in city and amount of their use, and relationship between existing McDonalds and this one, will they be in competition or cooperation? 
• Lilit Houlder (via Zoom), Planner with Arcadis, applicant representative for file, McDonalds has a real estate team, marketing studies that they conduct for feasibility of every site, when site is brought forward to planners it is because numbers are quantifiable to be successful, unsure of details.
• Lynn Kelsey, Oakville Street, only have one other McDonalds on Main Street, second is inside Walmart, proposal very close to residence, 8-year-old will be thrilled.
• Lori Todd (via Zoom), Planning Consultant for McDonalds of Canada, this is a positive community impact on local owner and operator, excited for this development.

6.

Opportunity for Council Members to Ask Questions

7.

Opportunity for Applicant to Respond to Questions

8.

Termination

The public hearing for "Zoning Amendment Bylaw No. 2025-34" was terminated at 6:26 p.m. and no new information can be received on this matter.