City of Kelowna staff support 71-unit project across from Capri mall

It’s been almost two years since a development permit application was submitted for a property across from the Capri Mall and it will finally be reviewed by city council on Monday.

City of Kelowna staff are recommending support for a proposed 71-unit apartment building.

Langley-based JY Architecture Inc. submitted an application for the six-storey mixed-use building in May 2022.

There would be ground level commercial units, some ground level residential units and apartments in the upper floors.

There would be 38 one-bedroom units, 29 two-bedrooms, including five townhomes, and four three-bedroom units.

Access to the building and the ground level homes would front onto Lequime Street.

According to the design plans, the commercial units would be located on the east side of the property and accessed from Gordon Drive.

Eighty-eight vehicle parking stalls and 72 bicycle parking stalls would be provided.

Staff say the proposal aligns with several design guidelines under the Official Community Plan.

That includes orienting the building entrances to the front streets, including individual entrances to ground level homes, breaking up the massing with interesting façade and upper floor stepbacks and locating parking beneath grade to maximize space for landscaping.

“The development provides generous common and private amenities that are accommodated through private balconies, indoor amenity rooms including a gym and conference room, rooftop outdoor amenity area, and private patios for the ground-oriented units along Lequime St,” the staff report says.

Currently, a portion of the Oasis Inn’s hotel rooms are located on this property, however, the staff report and developer’s application do not indicate what is happening to that building.

That topic will likely be brought up by city council when they review this application on Monday at 1:30 pm.