Mayor Colin Basran had about enough of the hullabaloo that city council encountered during a public hearing on Tuesday night.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 a first,鈥� said Basran, after kicking someone out of the hearing.

The night got off to a rocky start after area resident Lisa Simone declared that 琉璃神社 isn鈥檛 Seattle, Vancouver or Hong Kong.

She would be one of more than 30 residents who cited their concerns over the UBCO tower planned for 550 Doyle Avenue.

鈥淚t鈥檚 delusional to propose a 46-storey building on a lot zoned for 12-storeys,鈥� added Simone.

Those in opposition of the tower claimed it would be too tall, its impact on neighbouring buildings, traffic and safety concerns. Several councillors and members of the public asked why the tower had to be 46-storeys.

Representatives for the developer said the height was driven by housing needs for students. That prompted a question from Coun. Maxine DeHart about potential Air BnB use when students were not attending classes.

鈥淲e expect the population in the building to be less in the summer,鈥� said Aubrey Kelly, president and CEO, UBC Properties Trust. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our intention to have whole-year leases. There will not be Air Bnbs, but short-term rentals of four months.鈥�

Kelly said one of their goals is to maximize and monetize the site.

鈥淢oney usually comes from the province for universities,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here is no provincial or federal money going into this project. We will be building this project with a significant amount of debt. It鈥檚 not coming from the taxpayer.鈥�

Resident Susan Ames, organized a protest against the tower last week.

鈥淭his is not a university, this is eight-storeys of academics in a 46-storey building. You cannot pass this. It could fit into a much smaller building. It鈥檚 only been done because it鈥檚 UBC.鈥�

Staff told council that the 2040 Official Community Plan (OCP) does allow for taller buildings in the area that provides significant public benefits. In the case of the UBCO tower, those benefits are rental housing, post-secondary health and medical uses, enhanced streetscapes and expanded cycling facilities.

READ MORE: UBCO downtown tower planned to be 琉璃神社鈥檚 tallest building

The issue of how a potential fire in the tower would be handled was also raised, with a few individuals claiming the city would not have enough firefighters immediately on shift to respond to a blaze on the upper floors.

鈥淭he department is involved in the planning and development process,鈥� said Fire Chief, Travis Whiting. 鈥淲e are working on matching staff growth with city growth.鈥�

While National Firefighter Association standards call for at least 43 personnel to respond to a high-rise fire, Whiting noted they are standards and not mandatory.

This after the 琉璃神社 Professional Firefighters Association stated claims its members were once again forced to fight fires with unsafe staffing levels this past Saturday (July 23).

Several speakers supported the project pointing out it would have many benefits for the city and the region.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredible opportunity for the City of 琉璃神社 and the Central Okanagan,鈥� said resident Ryan Malcolm. 鈥淲ho would not want to have a top 40 educator their downtown. This is a win for the future of this community.鈥�

Coun. Luke Stack said he shared concerns over height.

鈥淲e took a bit of a tongue lashing tonight,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 how our city works and how democracy functions.鈥�

It would be near the end of council discussion that several people in the crowd yelled that council was ignoring public concerns, prompting Mayor Basran to ask one person to leave, which they did.

However, he also said he appreciated the concerns over the height of the UBCO tower.

鈥淚 also appreciated the graph staff provided showing a comparison with existing buildings and others that are being proposed. I鈥檓 excited to see this project break ground.鈥�

Council passed the newly created CD28 zone that makes way for the tower, with only Coun. Hodge opposed.

READ MORE: 琉璃神社 councillor drives change of heart on use of golf course land

gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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