More 6-unit infill housing proposals starting to roll into Kelowna city hall

More infill housing proposals have been submitted at Kelowna city hall in light of the provincial housing legislation that encourages up to six units on large lots close to transit corridors.

Last week the city accepted three applications for infill projects on Stockwell Avenue (fourplex), Raymer Avenue (five units) and Kinnear Avenue (four units).

On Thursday, the city’s planning department accepted two new applications for projects near the Capri centre and in Rutland.

Marwaha Designs Inc. is proposing two buildings which would have three units each, which is allowed under the existing MF1 - Infill Housing zone for 1020 Graham Rd.

The buildings would be two-storeys, would each have three bedrooms and private two-vehicle garages.

Each building would have a private balcony and some outdoor space.

“This lot is 1821 square metres compared to other 900 square metre lots in the area and therefore has more potential for redevelopment,” says the application.

Urban Options Planning Corp. is proposing a six-unit project for 934 Laurier Ave., which is just west of Gordon Drive near the Capri shopping centre.

An existing house and accessory building will be demolished if the application is approved.

This project would also be split into two buildings with units one to four fronting Laurier and units five and six facing a new rear laneway.

Both buildings would be three-storeys with private rooftop patios. Units five and six would have two-bedrooms while units one to four would have three bedrooms.

Parking would be located in a carport at the rear of the property with one space per unit.

“The goal for this site is to utilize the newly adopted infill zoning updates and OCP 2040 – Infill Guidelines to create a project which is safe, livable, accessible, and establishes a sense of community for all new and existing residents of the Laurier Avenue neighbourhood,” the application says.

On April 15, Kelowna City Council gave first, second and third readings to amendments to the development applications bylaw, which, if adopted, could see city staff given the authority to issue development permits for these types of projects.

That means this application likely won’t go before council as the city tries to speed up the process for issuing development permits, particularly for small-scale multi-unit homes like townhomes, triplexes and laneway homes.