Kelowna council will revisit 20-unit apartment proposal for the 4th time next week

Kelowna council will be once again reviewing an application for a 20-unit apartment on Lakeshore.

On Monday, council will be asked to reconsider the proposal for 3539 Lakeshore Road.

This will be the fourth time city council reviews this application.

Council gave initial consideration to the rezoning of 3593 Lakeshore Road in October 2023 and gave second and third readings in December, after council requested more information on the building’s potential impact to traffic on Lakeshore Road.

An application was then deferred in early April due to several concerns raised about the form and character.

One councillor called the building the “bare minimum” and others had issues with the building’s frontage onto other properties, saying it looked like a ”hospital wall.”

Coun. Charlie Hodge had issues with the lack of greenspace for future tenants while coun. Stack called the building design “mundane” and “plain.”

“The updated renderings have been updated to add additional features for the sides that face neighbouring properties,” says a staff report.

“This includes extending the wood slat to all sides of the buildings, as well as additional buildouts to articulate and frame the balconies.”

The report says all sides now have three different hardie materials for articulation.

Additionally, staff say the amenity spaces on the north and south sides have additional features including seating, fire tables, and landscaping that serves as a screen along the south property line, which faces neighbouring properties.

The amenity space on the north side includes a dog run and benches.

“Additional treatment has also been added to the Lakeshore Road frontage, which includes large trees that will help improve the street interface,” the report says.

Staff are once again recommending support for this project.

“Staff believe that the proposed changes to the form and character, amenity spaces and landscaping further meet the OCP Design Guidelines for low and mid-rise apartments,” the report says.

“The updated elevation drawings and landscaping improve the visual interest of the building to the neighbouring properties and the updated amenity spaces will increase the livability for future residents.”