232244

Kelowna  

Developer of old mill site in Kelowna ready to launch community consultations

Developer ready to listen

The developer of the old mill site downtown Kelowna is gearing up for a public outreach campaign on the future of the property.

Kelowna council Monday told city staff to create an area redevelopment plan for the 40-acre mill site, a process that will be undertaken in tandem with a broad neighbourhood plan for the entire north end.

Holar Developments, a Tolko Industries sister company, is managing the development of the property at 820/945 Guy Street and 804/814 Manhattan Drive.

“Our project team is excited about launching the community consultation process,” says planning consultant Dialog’s Kevin King, adding “area planning can have a significant impact on the future of a city and the Kelowna Mill Site offers a once-in-a-lifetime city-building opportunity to transition a large, industrial property to a new master-planned neighbourhood and community destination.”

It is expected community consultation will start in mid-January. King says they welcome “the imagination and creativity of all community members, stakeholders, and partners to reflect Kelowna’s needs.”

Holar Developments says it is cognizant of the site’s connections to the downtown, lake, rail trail network and Knox Mountain as it embarks on the planning process. The history of the site will also be “embedded” in the plan.

The developers have launched a website for the project and are inviting the community to register to stay informed of the process.

City council heard this week the plan for the nearly 90-year-old industrial site will be submitted in four stages, with each stage independently reviewed by the city.

It's expected both the development plan for the mill and the north end neighbourhood plan will take about 18 months to complete.



More Kelowna News