Kelowna

The stage is set for the revitalization of Kelowna's downtown core.

The City's Advisory Planning Commission has unanimously endorsed the downtown redevelopment plan that will allow for more highrises while at the same time, preserve the area's heritage.

"It will see a few highrises and quite tall highrises -- about the same height as the one's currently going up in the north end," says Vice Chair of the Advisory Planning Commission, Barry Braden. "There will be more of them, but they will be slim, whereas the current zoning allows for up to 14 storeys. This plan will allow some buildings to be up to 30 storeys, but the sight-lines are good and they will be spaced out. It won't be a wall of highrises."

Braden says the APC heard from both sides during more than six hours of debate Wednesday.

"The opponents want the status-quo. They want to keep the small-town look. They're concerned about preserving the heritage along Bernard Avenue. We're assured that the heritage would be preserved. The proponents want the downtown to become a more vibrant place where people can live and work -- an area that doesn't close down at 6 o'clock in the evening."

Braden says endorsing the new downtown redevelopment plan will make it easier for the Advisory Planning Commission to make decisions in the future.

"I think it's going to look vibrant because there hasn't been any movement at all. The City has been trying for years to get something happening to the south of City Hall and I think this is going to clarify it for developers and for us in making decisions when applications come before the Advisory Planning Commission."

He says the APC has been assured that there are enough natural resources (water) to handle the additional growth.

"We were assured that the sustainability downtown is able to cope with this amount of growth."

He says the APC's recommendations will be presented to City Council which in turn, will likely give the plan first reading followed by a public hearing. He says if all goes according to plan, construction could begin as early as next year.

Interview with Barry Braden (Kelly Hayes)