On Monday, Kelowna City Council voted to give first reading to a zoning bylaw amendment that will pave the way for the proposed UBCO campus in the downtown area.
City council also voted unanimously, and enthusiastically, to forward the proposal to a public hearing for further consideration.
“I look forward to hearing from the public,” said councillor Loyal Wooldridge.
UBC Properties Trust is requesting that 550 Doyle Avenue be rezoned from the central business commercial zone. City staff are proposing the University of BC downtown campus zone.
City staff said this unique and specially crafted zone would allow for the “full range of academic, research and other supporting land uses essential to a leading-edge university campus.”
Back in June, an application was submitted to increase the height of the tower from 34 storeys to a whopping 46 storeys.
The campus tower would include an atrium, eight storeys for academic purposes and 36 storeys providing more than 500 residential units for UBC students and staff.
Mayor Colin Basran said that moving forward with this project was “a long time coming” and that it “will be great to see what this brings to the city.”
More amenities include a cafe, public art gallery, public engagement suite as well as a plaza which would be open by both students and the public.
Under the proposed CD 28 zone, the building is required to have 80% of Doyle Avenue and 75% of St Paul Street dedicated to commercial, cultural, educational, or civic space for students, faculty and the general public.
"This is very impressive, I must say. I’m glad to support this,” noted councillor Mohini Singh when council contemplated sending this proposal to a public hearing.
In the report reviewed by Kelowna City Council ahead of today’s meeting, a number of sustainability standards were also mentioned, including a solar wall, recycling greywater on site and using hot shower drain water to help heat the building.
Final approval of this application would require approval from the ministry, followed by the issuance of a development permit.
The city has yet to announce which public hearing this will be forwarded to. Be sure to keep an eye out for that announcement.
For more information about the city’s process for public hearings, click here.
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