A Vancouver-based developer has been granted more time to get shovels in the ground for a four-tower project in Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 North End.
At a public hearing on May 13, council voted 6乌鸦传媒�2 to re-approve development and variance permits for the project by Ledingham McAllister, located at 1070 Ellis Street. The original permits were approved in July 2023. The project was first proposed in 2021.
乌鸦传媒淧rojects of this scale are extremely complicated and costly because of the integrated nature of the design,乌鸦传媒� explained Ryan Smith, the city乌鸦传媒檚 divisional director of planning and development services. 乌鸦传媒淚 think that both economic conditions and the complexity of the building have contributed to the time and us being back here for a re-approval.乌鸦传媒�
The project will include four towers of 36, 34, 32, and 28 storeys, and required five variances, including setbacks at the street level and upper floors, as well as podium height adjustments.
Several residents spoke at the hearing to voice concerns about the project's height, density, and potential for increased traffic congestion.
A resident from the neighbouring Waterscapes condo complex on Sunset Drive urged council to follow the Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaws, suggesting the city was acting unlawfully.
乌鸦传媒淏y any miracle, should that happen, this project be reduced to two towers of 26 storeys,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淪top approving project after project with so many variances.乌鸦传媒�
During the meeting, Smith responded to those concerns by clarifying that the development 乌鸦传媒渋s compliant with our zoning bylaw and our OCP in terms of density.乌鸦传媒�
Two other Waterscapes residents also criticized their strata council乌鸦传媒檚 letter of support for the project, claiming unit owners were not consulted.
However, Mike Martin, president of the Waterscapes strata council, addressed council directly.
乌鸦传媒淚 think I have a pretty good handle on the owners乌鸦传媒� pulse. The renderings I乌鸦传媒檝e seen do a good job of integrating the Waterscapes community with a new development. We think it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be the jewel of the city.乌鸦传媒�
Waterscapes was also built by Ledingham McAllister. Speaking on behalf of the company, executive vice-president Dan Giordano addressed the requested variances.
乌鸦传媒淲e could follow every bylaw to the 乌鸦传媒榯乌鸦传媒�, but you get a worse project,乌鸦传媒� he explained. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 why we乌鸦传媒檝e taken the harder route, and talked to council to explain why this makes sense乌鸦传媒攚hy it乌鸦传媒檚 good for Kelowna.乌鸦传媒�
Councillor Luke Stack responded to the resident乌鸦传媒檚 comment that council was acting illegally.
乌鸦传媒淥ne of our speakers tonight suggested that we are breaking the law乌鸦传媒攖hat is absolutely not the case.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Loyal Wooldridge, who previously supported the project, reiterated his position.
乌鸦传媒淢y only ask is that we see some shovels in the ground and this project come to fruition in the very near future.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Mohini Singh highlighted that the developer will contribute $2.2 million to the city乌鸦传媒檚 Housing Opportunities Reserve Fund through a density bonus.
乌鸦传媒淭his goes directly to help those in our city get a roof over their heads,乌鸦传媒� she said.
Councillors Charlie Hodge and Ron Cannan opposed the re-approval. Cannan argued the variances strayed too far from city design guidelines.
乌鸦传媒淚mpacting both livability and character of the area,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淚 think as a council member it乌鸦传媒檚 important to weigh whether these variances serve the public good乌鸦传媒攏ot just the goals of the developer.乌鸦传媒�
Mayor Tom Dyas closed the hearing by reminding council their decision was solely on the requested variances.
乌鸦传媒淭he idea of density and what is on that particular site is a factor of rules and regulations that are in place. It does not stop any developer from coming in and building something that is substantially bigger, wider, chunkier in order to accommodate all of that particular growth.乌鸦传媒�
Councillor Maxine DeHart recused herself from the discussion and vote, citing a conflict of interest due to owning an apartment in a nearby building.
