Big crowd expected for hearing on tower

Public hearing on proposal for 10-storey tower in Lakeview Heights likely to be held at school gym

Special arrangements are being made to accommodate the large crowd expected to turn out for a public hearing on what would be West Kelowna’s tallest building.

The June 28 meeting will likely be held in the Mount Boucherie Secondary School gym rather than West Kelowna’s administration office.

The two venues are adjacent to one another at the Mount Boucherie recreation complex.

TCD Development Group hopes to win city council approval for a 10-storey tower as part of a 340home residential project at the corner of Olalla Road and Anders Road in Lakeview Heights.

The proposal has aroused strong interest in the community, with supporters welcoming the diversity of housing options and critics saying the tower is too tall for the neighbourhood.

Some amendments to the proposal will likely be considered by council at the June 12 meeting before it is advanced to the public hearing, city planner Nancy Henderson has advised the Lakeview Heights Community Association in an email.

As part of the proposal, TCD would give the city $2 million over and above normal development fees for construction of a new Lakeview Heights fire hall. That contribution is in exchange for the city allowing the tower to be 10 storeys rather than the originally planned six storeys.