Kelowna city council voted unanimously to issue a development permit for a commercial development in the Pandosy area.
The applicant, Worman Commercial, is hoping to revitalize and transform the long-vacant site of the old St. Paul's Church, between Cristalina PARC and the Mission Park Shopping Centre.
The proposal calls for a trio of buildings featuring a mix of commercial retail units and office space, which would surround an urban plaza acting as a centrepiece of the site.
“I think it’s Pandosy perfect,” Coun. Luke Stack said during Monday’s meeting, adding that he was very pleased with the proposal.
He called it the “perfect fit” for the lot, expressing his appreciation of the variety between the three buildings, “particularly the brick,” and the fact that they compliment the neighbourhood
Stack noted that one of the buildings has a reference back to the design of the church and that the late Reverend Albert Baldeo would have been pleased.
The two commercial buildings perpendicular to Lakeshore Road would be a single storey, while the third building backed away from the road would be three storeys.
The existing parking lot to the east of the proposed buildings and urban plaza would be refreshed to create 81 stalls for the development with access from Lakeshore and KLO roads.
Like his councillors, Mayor Tom Dyas was impressed with the look of the proposal, but inquired as to whether there was an opportunity for greater density on the site.
The Official Community Plan allows for buildings up to eight storeys or 31 metres in the Pandosy urban centre.
City planner Jason Issler explained that the property has been vacant for so long and this proposal is “viable for the applicant to be able to bring something to market a lot sooner than waiting for market conditions to improve.”
He added that other large developments in the area, like Movala, Caban and more near Gyro Beach, allow for the area to accommodate lower-density proposals such as this one.
With a development permit now issued, the only thing standing between Worman Commercial and the start of construction is the acquisition of a building permit.
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