Combination of industrial, residential proposed at site

Trial project in Kelowna would see some residential land use on industrially zoned site downtown

A trial project will test the viability of having industrial and residential land uses combined on one site in Kelowna’s downtown north end.

City council is expected Monday to give first reading to plans by Emil Anderson Construction for the mixed-use project on its industrially zoned property at 907 Ethel St.

The property is at the northwest corner of Ethel and Trench Place, immediately south of Knox Mountain Metals.

Normally, residential uses are prohibited on industrial lands, but staff say Emil Anderson’s proposal is worth considering on a trial basis.

“This north end industrial parcel is in a unique position to provide a transition from the residential neighbourhoods to the northeast and northwest down to the general industrial uses located to the south side of the subject site,” reads part of a staff report to council.

“This (trial project) will allow staff to evaluate if the project is successful at limiting land use conflicts as it is important to preserve the viability of existing and future industrial operations,” the report states.

Staff propose a specific text amendment be created so this one property, and not all lands with a similar industrial zoning, could be used for residential purposes.

In 2012, as part of an affordable housing strategy, the city considered making industrial lands open for some residential development, but nothing came of the idea.

Special to The Okanagan Weekend This industrially zoned property in the downtown north end, owned by Emil Anderson Construction, could see some residential development under plans to be considered Monday by Kelowna city council.