Penticton council will weigh whether to allow an affordable housing development on Main Street to go higher at its Nov. 17. meeting.
M’akola Housing Society is asking to be allowed to go up five-stories instead of three, which adds an additional 2.5 metres of height for a 17.5m total, for their proposed tower at 603 Main Street.
If council decides to support the proposal on Nov. 17, as per city staff’s recommendation, there will be a public hearing on Dec. 7, before a final decision can be made.
The current zoning and Official Community Plan bylaws limit buildings along Main Street to a maximum of three stories.
The development would provide 28 residential units, 10 three-bedroom, 10 two-bedroom and eight one-bedroom units.
The proposal also currently includes 15 tuck-under parking stalls that would be set on the first floor of the development as well as the regional operations office for the M’akola Housing Society.
If the variance on the zoning and OCP is not granted, the development would be limited to 14 units.
M’akola Housing Society intends to focus the development on providing housing for Indigenous families, particularly for families with children who would be able to take advantage of the nearby schools.
The smaller one and two bedroom units would be focused on supporting seniors, especially Indigenous elders, and lower-income individuals.
As part of the BC Housing Community Housing Fund requirements, the development will provide a mix of affordable and subsidized housing.
The Economic Prosperity and Development Services Advisory Committee gave their unanimous support for the variance on Oct. 23.
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