Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 soon-to-be-tallest building will be three storeys shorter than originally planned.

Council has approved development permits for the UBC Okanagan downtown campus tower at 43 storeys. The building, proposed for 550 Doyle Avenue, first came to council at 46-storeys.

乌鸦传媒淲hile this represents a departure from the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) downtown heights map, which suggests a height of 26-storeys, the OCP also has policy that supports the increased height,乌鸦传媒� said Trisa Atwood, city planner. 乌鸦传媒淧olicy 4.4.3 states that if a proposal contains significant benefit to Kelowna citizens, it should be considered for additional height which does apply in this case.乌鸦传媒�

Atwood noted those benefits include rental housing, a post-secondary institution in a socially connected urban centre, and outstanding architectural design. Councillor Luke Stack said the project is a substantial improvement and a gain for downtown.

乌鸦传媒淚 also want to thank the applicant for reducing it a few storeys and listening to council乌鸦传媒檚 concerns and the public乌鸦传媒檚 concerns.乌鸦传媒�

The building will house academic space on levels one through eight, and 473 rental apartments on levels 12 through 43.

乌鸦传媒淚t meets a number of our objectives, 473 rental units is astounding,乌鸦传媒� said councillor Loyal Wooldridge. 乌鸦传媒漀ormally we approve about 955 annually, so that乌鸦传媒檚 basically half in one afternoon.

Atwood told council that currently there is a 1,300-person waiting list for student housing at UBCO乌鸦传媒檚 main campus. The downtown tower will house nursing and social work programs with 500 students eligible for housing. The height of the building was still a concern for some on council.

乌鸦传媒淏ut I乌鸦传媒檓 impressed with the project overall, said Coun. Mohini Singh. 乌鸦传媒淚 think it乌鸦传媒檚 a coup for us to get a world-class university right in our downtown core.乌鸦传媒�

Although he called it a 乌鸦传媒済ame-changer乌鸦传媒� to have UBCO downtown, Coun. Charlie Hodge was the lone vote against the development.

乌鸦传媒淚 still can乌鸦传媒檛 get past the height, I think it乌鸦传媒檚 overkill,乌鸦传媒� added Hodge. 乌鸦传媒淚 also think it creates competition for other potential student housing facilities in the downtown. I think the focus should be education first and housing second when it comes to this particular project.乌鸦传媒�

Hodge also said he felt the development was contrary to the OCP.

乌鸦传媒淚 have some concerns about the safety, and good luck with the parking I hope that works.乌鸦传媒�

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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