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West Kelowna city council took tentative first steps this week toward approving what would be the biggest development the city has ever seen.
With Couns. Rosalind Neis and Bryden Winsby absent from the Tuesday meeting, city council gave first reading to a bylaw that would rezone a portion of agricultural land to tourist/commercial.
It was the first step towards making possible a major development on a seven-hectare Campbell Road property in the city’s Casa Loma neighbourhood.
Although the project is nowhere near final approval, developers have at this stage proposed a “comprehensively designed lakeside community” that would include approximately 216 apartments, 85 townhomes, 10 agri-tourism accommodations, a 180-room hotel, 241-slip boat launch, and the possibility of a 425-square-metre winery and restaurant.
The developers propose building as high as eight storeys to make that happen. Should they get their wish, it would be the tallest development in West Kelowna to date.
However, both council and city staff expressed significant concerns with the project, and it appears likely to go through significant changes before its finished.
In a presentation to council, city staff said there is a “significant amount of work” that would have to be done before they are satisfied.
Because density on this scale was never envisioned for the Casa Loma neighbourhood the city’s Official Community Plan doesn’t really support it. Staff also raised concerns that the development “really ties” itself with agriculture lands, putting pressure on the city’s base of arable land.
Staff said that, while the development “has a lot going for it,” they would like to see its scale and height reduced to better fit the neighbourhood.
Speaking on behalf of the developers, Stephen Shawcross told council the development they envision would create an “iconic landmark for West Kelowna” and provide a range of amenities.
He said the developers want to make the project as friendly to the public as possible, and pointed to the fact that it will create new beach access, provide a much-needed boat launch, and more.
He also said the project would create more than 800 construction jobs and give the city an extra $2.1 million a year in property tax revenue each year.
Council appeared supportive of the development in principle but did have concerns about its current iteration.
Mayor Doug Findlater said he’s “not afraid of height or density” but that he sees some “yellow flags,” particularly when it comes to road infrastructure and the impact on the waterfront.
“There is a lot of yellow flags, but there are some red flags too,” Coun. Duane Ophus added, saying several issues would have to be dealt with “in detail” if the project is going to move forward.
Staff had recommended limiting the height of the development to four storeys, but Ophus said he didn’t believe that was the best course of action. He said he would rather see more density and in turn more green space, than shorter, more sprawling buildings.
Coun. Rust Ensign and Carol Zanon both expressed strong support, with Zanon calling the development the “harbinger of the future.”
After council gave the OCP changing bylaw first reading, leaving out staff’s recommendation to limit the height to four storeys, Findlater reiterated that council was two members down and that “anything can happen at second reading.”
More information about the proposed development is available in last Tuesday’s council agenda package.
Correction: This story originally stated Coun. Carol Zanon was absent, instead of Coun. Rosalind Neis
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