It’s only ten storeys high but it would be West Kelowna’s tallest building.
City council took a step towards approving the development proposal for the corner of Olalla and Anders Road this week after passing second reading in a 5-1 vote.
The mostly residential proposal includes several 6-storey buildings as well as the 10-storey one.
While many support high-density buildings, the location of this one has some people concerned including the lone councillor who voted against it.
“I’m not convinced that residents of Lakeview Heights or residents of West Kelowna want their first 10-storey building to be in the middle of a residential area in Lakeview Heights in a nice, open flat area which will stand out really good,” Rick de Jong said.
Area resident Barb Ames echoed the sentiment and told Global News she’s concerned about the height of the building.
“I’m shocked, I’m really disappointed that they would think that Lakeview Heights amongst the vineyards and this beautiful landscape, that a 10-storey building would fit in this neighborhood.”
But councillor Duane Ophus is among the councillors who voted to support the project moving forward. He said West Kelowna is in need of alternative forms of housing.
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“I think ideally it might be nice to have a little less height but to me height is not the be all and end all,” Duane Ophus said. “What I am looking for really, and we will see in the next few phases, is how the design looks, how it fits into the community, how it integrates into the community.”
The proposed development is part of the Lakeview Village Re-development project that included a complete make-over of the shopping centre across the street. The work was done by TCD Development Group, the same company that now wants to build the 10-storey building.
The City of West Kelowna is willing to increase the maximum height from six to 10 storeys on the proposed site in exchange for the developer’s commitment to contribute $2.5 Million towards the construction of a new fire hall on the site.
“Trading density for public amenities is common practice everywhere that I know of,” Ophus said. “If the alternative is for the city to come up with $5, 6 Million dollars on our own, that is the starting point for me…the benefit to the West Kelowna taxpayer is clear.”
TCD Development Group plans on holding public information sessions this spring to show residents what exactly the plans entail. That will be followed by a public hearing.
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