Kelowna city council has staunchly rejected a Bertram Road highrise, at one point imagined to be the city91裸聊视频檚 next tallest building.

The building, abutting the under-construction Bernard Block towers, was first proposed at 46 storeys in January 91裸聊视频� 34 storeys taller than the 12 allowed in the area. That was whittled down to 35 storeys before it landed on councillors91裸聊视频� desks for early consideration Monday but Coun. Ryan Donn still described the proposed height variance as a 91裸聊视频渟lap in the face.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淵ou dropped off a 46-storey application the day after a 43-storey tower (was approved). It just feels like a PR stunt,91裸聊视频� said Donn, referring to council91裸聊视频檚 January approval of Water Street by the Park, currently slated to be Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 next tallest building.

91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 looking forward to voting against this today because I feel like it91裸聊视频檚 a bit of a waste of time.91裸聊视频�

The project was planned to have 276 homes, of which the developer said 44 per cent would be sold or rented below market value 91裸聊视频� starting around $200,000. The developer maintained that it needed density to make the project affordable and provide some needed housing variety in the downtown core. The 12-storey zoning and even the 20-storey variance staff said it would support based on the developer91裸聊视频檚 affordable offerings, would only be viable for a pricier development.

91裸聊视频淚f we go to a 20-storey building, we91裸聊视频檙e just building condos. Is that what you want? More luxury condos?91裸聊视频� said Ed Romanowski, Mercidian Group91裸聊视频檚 executive chair.

Mayor Colin Basran questioned the developer91裸聊视频檚 thought process, asking why Mercidian would buy land in the most expensive areas in the city 91裸聊视频� downtown 91裸聊视频� with a goal of building affordable housing. He mentioned the city91裸聊视频檚 other urban cores, Rutland, Landmark, Pandosy and Midtown, as other areas the developer could91裸聊视频檝e explored.

91裸聊视频淎nd now you91裸聊视频檙e coming to say, 91裸聊视频榃e paid so much for these, now we have to have this massive project; that91裸聊视频檚 the only way it works,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淲ell, of course, because you just bought land in the most expensive part of our community.91裸聊视频�

Council unanimously rejected the project.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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