Kelowna city council will be asked to approve a development permit for a commercial development in Rutland.
The development is proposed for the northeast corner of the Highway 33/Rutland Road intersection. The property has been vacant for several years.
The application put forward by Compass Real Estate Development would consolidate two properties and include three commercial units intended to be food primary establishments.
One of those commercial units would be a drive-in food service. Each unit will include a small patio with a total of 119 square metres of outdoor seating space.
A drive-thru is also proposed for the property.
"Although drive-thrus are not typically permitted in Urban Centres they are a permitted use where a property fronts a provincial highway, stated staff in its report to council.
"Staff's preference would be for the drive-thru to be located at the rear of the site with the building sited closer to the intersection, however, this is made difficult due to the irregular site configuration and single driveway access across from Rutland Road North.
"Pedestrian walkways to the site will include marked crosswalks across the drive-thru aisle and customer bicycle parking will be provided."
Staff further stated potential impacts to adjacent residential properties to the northeast would be reduced through the site design.
The Uptown Rutland Association is also supportive of the 7,000 plus square foot development.
The association says the problem of development of this long empty lot at one of Rutland's most prominent intersections will be resolved.
In order to receive the permit the applicant will have to satisfy several conditions set out by the city.
Once issued, the development permit will be valid for two years with no opportunity for an extension.