Permits issued for West Kelowna's first 'high-rise' building

Permits have been issued for West Kelowna’s tallest downtown building.

During the June 11 meeting, West Kelowna City Council approved the development permit for a seven-storey mixed-use building at 3717 Hoskins Road.

The rezoning for the project was supported in early January and formally adopted in April.

The building will have 65 residential rental units, over 200 square metres of outdoor amenity space and two levels of parking, which would also include car share spaces.

There will be 20 studios, ten one-bedrooms, 25 one-bedroom plus den units and ten two-bedrooms. Each unit would have a private enclosed balcony.

The developer, Lakeland Living, says the project will also have the first electric vehicle charging center in West Kelowna’s downtown area.

According to earlier applications, there will also be 90 square metres of commercial space in two units along Dobbin and Hoskins Road.

Staff told council that the developer has indicated plans for a fitness space and retail store in those two units.

Staff explained that a portion of the parkade will be exposed to align the highway but the developer has plans to make it look more attractive.

“The developer has put effort into making sure that is screened and looks nice,” staff said.

“So we have some detailed grills that go into the parkade there as well as a mural on the wall and then there will be vines that grow up that concrete wall as well as shrubs, grass and two trees.”

Staff said that under the BC Building Code, this is not considered a high rise building.

Coun. Rick de Jong thought it important to stress that with the public from the city’s capacity to fight fires.

“So it was in the report that our fire chief had indicated he is not concerned about the height of this building and that, as much as it's listed here as a seven storey, it's not going to be an issue moving forward,” coun. De Jong said.

Brent Magnan, the city's director of development approvals, told city council members that staff had spent a lot of time with the fire department and the developer to ensure that the fire department’s needs are met so this was not classified as a high building.

Although fire chief Jason Brolund was not present at the June 11 meeting, Magnan said he could confirm that all requirements had been met and that the applicant actually made changes to ensure the local fire department was satisfied with the design.

“There was a bit of an interactive process to get it where it is today. And at this point, this is something that is doable under our existing fire suppression needs,” Magnan said.

Coun. de Jong thanked staff and the developer for their work on ensuring the fire department could handle this type of build.

Coun. Garrett Millsap said he was happy to see the project moving forward.

“This begins the revitalization of downtown,” coun. Millsap said.

“We’re going to have people living and working downtown West Kelowna and I commend the developer on all of his hardwork and coming together with a really nice purpose built rental building.”

Councillors Jason Friesen and Stephen Johnston also voiced their excitement about the project.

The development permits were supported by an unanimous vote of approval.