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Kelowna  

Mayor, council at odds

Call Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran a dreamer.

When it comes to a preferred redevelopment plan for the Capri-Landmark town centre, the mayor is dreaming big.

While councillors generally liked the plan as presented, they had some reservations about the proposed $100 million price tag, the logistics of realigning Sutherland Avenue and creation of a large park space just south of the newly realigned street.

"Call me a dreamer, I love this plan for a number of different reasons," said Basran.

"One, because it brings the density and the mixed-use that we want to see. It increases the connectivity of our neighbourhoods that we all appreciate. It promotes alternate modes of transportation and people moving, parks and communal space."

He says it brings all the ideals and everything council is trying to champion, together.

And, while Coun. Luke Stack also loved the plan, he was the lone voice against it.

He likened it to constructing John Hindle Drive. Stack said it was a priority when he first ran for council 10 years ago to get the road built to UBCO.

That was an $11 or $12 million project and the province had to come to the table to assist.

"This is a $100 million challenge in 22 years. When I put it in perspective to building one road of John  Hindle to building $100 million of assets in 20 years, I just don't have the confidence we can pull it off," said Stack.

"I love the plan, but back to Coun. Sieben's comment, the size of the park in the middle is very, very expensive. And, I also know we have a deficit of about 30 other parks we are waiting to build."

Stack says he likes the look, the layout and the principles of the plan, but doesn't think is achievable.

The linchpin of the plan is the realignment of Sutherland Avenue so it connects with Spall Road near Kent Road.

Cost of land acquisition for transportation, much of that to do with Sutherland, is estimated at $18 million.

Coun. Gail Given had some concerns surrounding Sutherland, but said overall, she supports the plan. She says it gives the development community a clear indication of what the city is looking for in that particular town centre area.

But, she said it is not a signal to the community that this is the new top priority for the city.

"I wouldn't want people to be misled that this is a priority ahead of everything else the city is doing, it isn't," she said.

"It's a plan. It's signalling what our expectations are."

A final version of the Capri-Landmark plan will come to council later this spring.



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