Council applauds tower

Kelowna city council issued support for plans for a 33-storey mixed-use tower at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Water Street.

Council voted 6-3 to issue development and development variance permits for the project being developed by Mission Group on property owner by Victor Projects.

Councillors Ron Cannan, Gord Lovegrove and Charlie Hodge provided dissenting opinions.

The development includes a five-storey parking podium, seven floors of long-term rentals and 21-storeys of for-sale condos, a first-of-its-kind development mix in the city.

While those in favour applauded the “innovative” approach, Cannan saw it as an end run around city bylaws.

“It seems like a more innovative way to try to do a work around from present zoning bylaws,” said Cannan.

He was also not sold on the location, which is presently a parking lot and office building, or the city’s rental only policy.

“Leaving it as a parking lot still provides a community benefit because I don’t support the notion of providing a building just for the sake of building more units.

“The parking reduction may be consistent with the rental policy which is a policy I don’t support and have been working to change.”

Cannan also does not support more towers downtown.

Hodge reiterated his long-standing objection to tower heights close to the waterfront, “great building, wrong location,” while Lovegrove said it is just too much.

“You look around this council and there are four new members for a reason. One of the big ones is it’s just too big,” said Lovegrove.

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge led the charge of the majority in support of the project saying all housing, regardless of tenure, is good housing.

He also suggested it would act as an economic stimulus being close to employment and small businesses.

“It’s exciting to see a parking lot and a two-storey office building turned into something people will enjoy into the future,” said Wooldridge.

Others also applauded the innovative nature of the project, however Coun. Mohini Singh did offer some concerns over traffic impacts in the area.

Construction on the 262-unit building is expected to begin once a building permit is issued.