The City of Kelowna endorsed recommendations to include language around residential EV charging in upcoming zoning bylaws changes.
The language will require all new residential developments to have at least one energized EV outlet for every dwelling unit built.
This new bylaw would apply to both single and multi-family housing.
However, that was not the only change. Kelowna Council also directed staff to investigate EV readiness requirements for institutional, commercial, industry and service station developments.
The staff then will come back to the Council with specific recommendations for changes.
The move to change planning bylaw is a cheaper one than requiring retrofits or other changes.
As per a study by the neighbouring City of Kamloops, the installation cost of an EV ready parking stall is between $930 to $1,500 per stall. However, the cost to retrofit that same stall can be as much as triple that cost.
Kamloops, for their part, is expecting to implement similar residential EV charger requirements in 2022.
Kelowna expects around 25,000 new homes will be built through 2040, so this policy is certainly not ineffective.
The plan is part of a broader strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city.
There is no timeline of when the new bylaw changes will come into place. The city only confirmed that the changes would be part of upcoming planning bylaw changes.
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Source: Castanet
