Biggest development ever

Photo: Contributed

West Kelowna city council took tentative first steps this week toward approving what would be the biggest development the city has ever seen.

With Couns. Rosalind Neis and Bryden Winsby absent from the Tuesday meeting, city council gave first reading to a bylaw that would rezone a portion of agricultural land to tourist/commercial.

It was the first step towards making possible a major development on a seven-hectare Campbell Road property in the city’s Casa Loma neighbourhood.

Although the project is nowhere near final approval, developers have at this stage proposed a “comprehensively designed lakeside community” that would include approximately 216 apartments, 85 townhomes, 10 agri-tourism accommodations, a 180-room hotel, 241-slip boat launch, and the possibility of a 425-square-metre winery and restaurant.

The developers propose building as high as eight storeys to make that happen. Should they get their wish, it would be the tallest development in West Kelowna to date.

However, both council and city staff expressed significant concerns with the project, and it appears likely to go through significant changes before it's finished.

In a presentation to council, city staff said there is a “significant amount of work” that would have to be done before they are satisfied.

Because density on this scale was never envisioned for the Casa Loma neighbourhood the city’s Official Community Plan doesn’t really support it. Staff also raised concerns that the development “really ties” itself with agriculture lands, putting pressure on the city’s base of arable land.

Staff said that, while the development “has a lot going for it,” they would like to see its scale and height reduced to better fit the neighbourhood.

For more on the developer's side of the story and the mayor's first impressions, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge.