City planners want townhouses near Okanagan College moved forward

A townhouse project proposed for a South Pandosy neighbourhood near Okanagan College is up for review by Kelowna City Council this week.

In March, 1007 Lanfranco Road was rezoned to the MF2 –Townhouse zone.

On Monday, city planners will ask council to support the issuance of a development permit for the eight unit project.

That would include one three-bedroom unit and seven four-bedroom units.

All the buildings will be three-storeys in height.

A staff report says that although common and private amenity spaces are not required for developments with under 10 dwelling units, the applicant is providing private rooftop decks, balconies and yard space.

Seven of the eight units are proposed to have elevator access, the report says.

Sixteen vehicle parking stalls would be provided with four short-term bicycle parking stalls.

According to the staff report, the landscaping plan will include planting 15 trees, nine of which will eventually be larger trees.

City planners note that they received comments from the neighbourhood with concerns about too much height, increased density, insufficient parking, a lack of privacy between southern properties and the development.

The report says the proposal, besides unit count, comes in below the maximum permitted for site coverage and side yard setbacks.

City planners also note that the developer is providing 16 parking spaces, one more than required by the zoning bylaw.

As for the concerns about privacy and landscaping, the developer worked with an arborist to maintain existing mature hedges on the eastern property boundary line. New trees will be planted in the gaps of that hedge, the report says.

City staff say the developer will be installing a solid fence around the property and the rooftop deck has increased panel heights to block the views into neighbouring properties.

“Based on the Development Permit guidelines and the design consideration that were included, Staff believe the building will fit well into the immediate area,” the report notes.

This application will be reviewed by city councillors Monday afternoon.