An apartment building development proposed near the Parkinson Recreation Centre sparked debate at a public hearing Jan. 17.

The issue for several area residents is they feel the building is too tall for their neighbourhood.

91裸聊视频淲e are a three-storey building, this is going to be a six-storey building, we are going to be kissing balconies,91裸聊视频� said one resident.

Another neighbour added, 91裸聊视频渋t91裸聊视频檚 just not the right size for the area we are in.91裸聊视频�

The development, by Westpoint Projects, proposes 150 rental units, with one storey of at-grade parking and five storeys of apartments at 1575 Bernard Avenue, near Burtch Road.

READ MORE: Rental-only building planned for Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 Bernard Avenue

Coun. Gord Lovegrove noted that the city received 100 per cent opposition to the project in written comments.

91裸聊视频淚s there anybody in favour of this thing?91裸聊视频�

While zoning can allow up to six storeys, as the project is along a transit route, Coun. Ron Cannan said that it shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be a foregone conclusion.

91裸聊视频淚 believe in more responsible development and not development at all cost,91裸聊视频� he added.

Cannan and Lovegrove said while they believed it was a good development, they shared residents91裸聊视频� concerns that the building is too tall and wanted the developer to reconsider its project.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge pointed out that Kelowna currently has a 0.6 per cent vacancy rate.

91裸聊视频淲eek after week we get emails from people that are living in their cars, that can91裸聊视频檛 find a place to live and can91裸聊视频檛 work in our stores,91裸聊视频� he said.

Wooldridge added that council has heard loud and clear that high-rises, sprawl development and carriage houses are not wanted.

91裸聊视频淚 would urge my colleagues that this is the exact development we need in Kelowna to meet the needs, especially of our young people.91裸聊视频�

Coun. Luke Stack said one of the challenges previous councils have wrestled with is how to grow the city, and accommodate new people coming to the community.

91裸聊视频淚f we don91裸聊视频檛 do that then essentially what I guess we91裸聊视频檙e finally concluding is that Kelowna is not going to grow,91裸聊视频� he added.

Many residents said they liked the development, but voiced other concerns about parking, traffic, density and lost views. Several councillors noted that even a two or three-storey building would block some views of nearby buildings.

Council voted 6-2 in favour, with Cannan and Lovegrove opposed, of moving the project forward.

READ MORE: 10-year tax break for rental-only developments in Kelowna

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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