Rezoning for 62 rental units in the Capri area to be reviewed by Kelowna council

An application that could see a property in the Capri area rezoned to allow for a rental only apartment building will be reviewed by Kelowna City Council next week.

Kelowna-based BlueGreen Architecture Inc. is looking to add the rental only subzone to 1310 and 1320 Belaire Ave, which are currently zoned under the UC2 – Capri-Landmark Urban Centre zone.

Plans for the project were submitted at city hall nearly a year ago in mid-May 2023 and propose a five-storey building with 62 units.

There would be 16 one-bedroom units, 22 one-bedrooms with a den and 24 two-bedroom units with 49 parking spaces provided in a semi-submerged parkade.

A parking reduction could be granted under the city’s rental incentive program.

The developer is providing 89 bicycle parking spaces with another six short-term spaces at the front door.

Staff recommend support because the project “supports key directions within the Healthy Housing Strategy to promote and protect rental housing,” the staff report says.

They say the proposed building is also consistent with Official Community Plan policies which encourage medium and high-density building with diverse housing tenures.

They also say the property is close to local parks, shopping amenities and transit supportive corridors.

This area of the Capri neighbourhood has been under major redevelopment over the past couple of years.

South of 1310 Belaire Avenue is the Five crossings development at 1274 Devonshire Avenue.

Down the street, a 99-unit condo building is proposed for 1341 and 1355 Belaire Ave.

Directly east of that is an approved 90-unit building, called the Anacapri, at the corner of Belaire Avenue and Chandler Street.

Further south is a 240-unit apartment building at 1280 Sutherland Avenue, which has seen former homes demolished and construction beginning.