Kelowna City Councillor, Brian Given, is still steaming nearly 24 hours after walking out of a Council meeting for what he saw as 'a breach in the municipal process.'

Shortly after a lengthy and lively debate around re-opening a review of the Downtown Kelowna Plan, Given made his feelings known to his fellow Councillors.

"What I witnessed here this afternoon Your Worship, it must be an election year coming up, and I'm disappointed," Given said before leaving Council Chambers.

The Downtown Plan, endorsed in 1999, encompasses the entire downtown core, stretching east to Richter and west as far as Doyle. It allows for a maximum building height of between 12 and 14 storeys.

The contentious Downtown Revitalization Plan, which incorporates a four block area bordered by Abbott, Queensway, Water and Harvey, would allow for building heights of 26 storeys in some areas under its own CD Zone.

Given says the Revitalization Plan has been moving forward for months and needs to be followed to its conclusion.

He says as recently as three weeks ago, Council unanimously told staff to continue to move forward --- until Monday.

"What was being discussed to me was an absolute breech in the process. It appeared to me certain members of council were trying to kill the whole idea of the CD Zone before it had gone through the proper process."

Given wouldn't name names, but did single out one Councillor for what he considered surprising comments.

"What surprised me is that the Heritage Commission has come out in support of the idea and so has the Downtown Plan Committee, which Colin (Councillor Colin Day) chairs I understand, so I was a little surprised at some of his comments."

More than two dozen people were in attendance, all supporting re-opening the Downtown Plan review.

When asked if he thought Council was pandering to those people, Given didn't mince words.

"I think you could safely make that conclusion."

A final open house on the CD Zone will be held Wednesday night before a final report comes back to Council.

At about the same time, a staff report on cost and resources needed for a full Downtown Plan review will be ready.

Given says the discussion is far from over.

"I've been passionate about downtown Kelowna for two decades. My association with the Downtown Business Association goes way back. We've been longing for a long time for significant re-development in the downtown core."