Kelowna wants to take over Crown land so it can better police squatters

The Province of B.C. doesn’t have the resources to police a parcel of land near Mission Creek so the City of Kelowna is asking for tenure so it can do the job properly.

“Since December 2020, the city’s bylaw department has received numerous complaints regarding campers and squatters that occupy the property during all seasons, causing nuisances to the neighbours,” states a report going to city council on Monday, Feb. 14.

“These nuisances include campfires, littering and overextended occupation. While the land is owned by the Crown, the Province is unable to take direct enforcement action, citing a lack of resources.”

The land is identified as 2015 Hollywood Road South and appears to be next to Mission Creek near the Mission Creek Bike Skills Park which is at 1960 Hollywood Road.

The report says city bylaw officers can take some actions there but having a tenure agreement will give it a “more comprehensive approach to mitigating further trespass would require a formal Crown tenure.”

Some of the questions left unanswered in the report include what a tenure agreement would allow bylaw officers to do that they can’t do now.

Calls to city staff were not immediately returned.

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