After a lengthy public hearing and debate Kelowna City Council has given second and third readings to a controversial development on Strathcona Avenue near Kelowna General Hospital.
The public hearing itself lasted nearly five hours with a final decision rendered about 1:30 Wednesday morning.
City Clerk Stephen Fleming says 42 interveners spoke during the public hearing with opinions for and against, almost split evenly.
The proposed 3.5 storey re-development at the corner of Strathcona and Abbott Street would include a mix of healthcare, residential and a cafe restaurant.
Ironically, this is the same property owned by Dr. Heather Martin, council narrowly gave approval for a family medical practice there two years ago.
Nothing was done with that development until this second proposal came forward.
Councillor Gerry Zimmermann, who voted against the first proposal in 2012 gave his enthusiastic support to this latest re-development.
He says those opposed to the project spoke mostly about the size of the building and the fact it included a cafe or coffee shop.
"We saw that as being something that was really needed down there, not just for people in the hospital but for people visiting from out of town," says Zimmermann.
"Where do they go at nine o'clock at night or where do they go just to get out of the hospital. You just want to get out of the hospital environment."
Zimmermann says he also liked the mixed use with both medical and residential uses.
"They are going to have doctors offices that are right next to the hospital." This means they can leave the hospital to their work space and if they are called back they are only two minutes away.
"The rentals above...Dr. Martin indicated those could be students going back and forth," says Zimmermann.
He says some of the neighbours felt misled because the first development plan included keeping the house and making it a doctor's office.
"For a piece of property that valuable to the community I don't think that would be the best use for it. This mixed use is a way better solution."
The proposal will come back to council for final reading once certain conditions are met.
Subdivision Manager, Ryan Smith says those conditions are fairly standard when it comes to projects such as this.
Smith says they have to resolve development engineering requirements which include water and sewer connections plus a lane widening along the north portion of the property.
And, because the property is within the Heritage Conservation Area, a Heritage Alteration Permit must be brought forward.
Smith says the development won't come back to council for final reading until sometime in the new year.