Although they praised its innovative part-condo, part-rental configuration, Councillors Gord Lovegrove, Ron Cannan, and Charlie Hodge opposed a 33-storey tower planned for downtown Kelowna.
Council debated a development permit for the Mission Group project at the corner of Lawrence Avenue (346) and Water Street (1551) during a public hearing on Nov. 5. Although he liked the project, Lovegrove said it was not the right fit for the area.
91裸聊视频淵ou look around this council and there are four new members for a reason, and one of the big ones Coun. Cannan twigged on, and we were reminded by one of the delegations, it91裸聊视频檚 too much,91裸聊视频� Lovegrove said.
Cannan credited the developer for the building's 91裸聊视频渉ybrid approach91裸聊视频� but also felt it was in the wrong part of town.
91裸聊视频淭o me, it seems more of an innovative workaround of the present zoning bylaw. The parking reduction may be consistent with the rental-only policy, which is a policy I don91裸聊视频檛 support and have been working to change,91裸聊视频� Cannan said.
Cannan was referring to a variance to the project that allows a reduction in parking in exchange for additional rental-only units. Of the 262 units, 89 are rental, which includes 14 bonus suites. The development is also allowed to rise to 33 storeys from the zoned 26 floors through city initiatives.
Mission Group contributed approximately $105,000 to the Public Amenity and Streetscapes Fund, one of two streams available to developers. The other is the Housing Opportunities Reserve Fund. Three residents spoke against the project, questioning a lack of affordable housing options.
91裸聊视频淲e are providing rental housing within this project91裸聊视频� In fact, the variance is asking to add more rentals,91裸聊视频� Sarang Gokhale, VP of development for Mission Group, told the hearing. 91裸聊视频淭here are always different locations for different needs across the spectrum of housing needs. There are different types of housing available everywhere.91裸聊视频�
Coun. Rick Webber asked what advantage rental-only units provided when any owner-occupied unit in the building could be rented. Staff said purpose-built rentals are overseen by the Residential Tenancy Branch, and that unregulated rentals could be subject to renovictions or owners taking their units back.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know that there91裸聊视频檚 a strong benefit to the rental-only aspect, but that91裸聊视频檚 just my perspective,91裸聊视频� Webber added.
The rest of council noted that the development is needed in the downtown core.
91裸聊视频淲e need this density to support our economy year-round, and it91裸聊视频檚 exciting to see the new office tower downtown, but we need to enhance that with more people living down here,91裸聊视频� Coun. Loyal Wooldridge said.
Council voted to grant the development permit, with Lovegrove, Cannan, and Hodge opposed.
