Controversial building loses a lot of height

Proposed 10-storey building in Lakeview Heights reduced to 6 storeys

Plans for a controversial 10-storey building in West Kelowna have been downsized.

The developer now intends to build only a six-storey structure in Lakeview Heights, a reduction in scale that pleases directors of the neighbourhood association.

“We are very happy that the developer and the City of West Kelowna have agreed to this change (which) we believe will be to the benefit of all parties,” says Mike Wilding, president of the Lakeview Heights Community Association.

A six-storey building is what was originally proposed for the site, at the corner of Olalla Road and Anders Road.

“We strongly support this reversion to what was initially presented,” said Stan Dosman, another LCHA director.

Revised plans for the development were presented at a Tuesday meeting of West Kelowna city council.

“Based on public feedback, there were concerns with the proposed level of density,” planner Darin Schaal writes in a report to council.

The total floor area of the development has been scaled back from 418,000 square feet to 360,000 square feet, with the number of housing units decreasing to about 250 from 350.

Also dropped was an idea that the developer, TMD Group, pay the city $2 million over and above regular fees, with the money put toward construction of a new firehall in Lakeview Heights fire hall.

Even with that contribution, the city has determined it doesn’t have the required funds at present to move forward with the new firehall, Schaal says.

However, the developer would still be contributing $150,000 toward improvements of the Lakeview Heights community hall, $89,000 toward a roundabout at the intersection of Anders, Cordova, and Boucherie roads, and some other infrastructure upgrades.

If approved by council, the revised plans will be forwarded to a public hearing on June 28 for citizen comment.