A six-storey rental development was given the go-ahead by 琉璃神社 city council, much to the disdain of some south Pandosy residents at a public hearing on Tuesday night (Sept. 10).

Residents expressed concerns over the height and proximity of the Mission Group development to a neighbouring building.

The building is set to be built at 464 West Ave in a location which currently only allows four-storey buildings. The design of the building sees the taller portion placed away from the neighbouring building, placing a large second-floor rooftop patio between the two residences.

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After the presentation and public hearing, council was happy with the form and character of the development, resulting in a 6-1 vote in favour of Mission Group. Coun. Mohini Singh was absent at the vote.

Coun. Charlie Hodge was the lone 鈥榥o鈥� in a sea of 鈥榶es鈥� as council approved the development but it came with an asterisk.

鈥淭he neighbourhood has said clearly, that they鈥檙e not comfortable with this here. I鈥檓 going to vote no, but I can do the math,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 hope at the end of the day that the neighbourhood can go, 鈥榶ou know what? That鈥檚 not bad. I鈥檓 pretty happy with that.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a beautiful building.鈥�

Mayor Basran said a facility like this is necessary for the Pandosy area.

鈥淚 think that what this brings to this area is much needed rental housing to our community. It creates a more vibrant urban center when we have more people living in it. It means less sprawl, again, by encouraging growth in our Urban Centers and by reducing sprawl it has a positive impact on the environment,鈥� said Basran.

At the initial public hearing in June, Mayor Colin Basran said he was shocked at the community鈥檚 response to the development.

鈥淵ou鈥檇 think it was a 15-storey building being proposed here,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 agree that South Pandosy is not downtown, and I鈥檓 not trying to make it downtown, but a small bump about what鈥檚 currently called for in the OCP and what鈥檚 being proposed is not, in my estimation, that dramatic. And to me, it fits in with what the OCP is 鈥� it鈥檚 a guiding document, it鈥檚 not set in stone.鈥�

鈥淭his is a project that I can support because it鈥檚 not a huge deviation of what currently exists,鈥� he added.

The project is set to host 48 purpose-built rental units as well as five commercial storefronts.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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