After nearly two hours of the public speaking out against developing 602 Lakeshore Drive, Penticton city council passed third reading in a 4-3 vote to allow a four-storey eight-unit complex on the city’s iconic Lakeshore Drive.
To the zoning and community plan amendments adopted, conditions will have to be met by developer Meiklejohn Architectural Design Studio. The developer will be required to meet with city staff to work on the concerns outlined by community members in the public hearing, including the requested variances lot coverage, set backs and landscaping and buffers to the sidewalk and alley for 602 Lakeshore Dr.
Councillors Judy Sentes, James Miller and Frank Regehr voted against giving third reading following the public hearing during council’s Tuesday night meeting.
Sentes said what concerned her most was that the developer was asking for four variances to the OCP.
“To ask for four variances to our OCP … that’s offensive. It’s too much asked of us,” said Sentes.
Coun. Miller said Canada does a terrible job of protecting its heritage unlike countries like Europe.
But he pointed out that there our no specific guidelines for heritage on Lakeshore Drive.
READ MORE: Historic Walker home demolished for fourplex
Coun. Katie Robinson said the home on the property is not heritage.
“The building is a falling down shack,” said Robinson. “There is no preserving that home.”
This will be the first time an 18 metre lot would get rezoning to RM3 (medium density residential), pointed out Regehr.
The issue with Lakeshore Drive, the showpiece of Penticton and a major tourist draw, is that Penticton has set up no design guidelines for the street, as the developer pointed out in his presentation at the public hearing.
“We need guidelines on design for this street and maybe we will see that in the future with our design review,” said coun. Julius Bloomfield.
But to say that this development will be a game-changer for Lakeshore, the game has already been played there, he said.
“It’s going to be higher density on Lakeshore. It’s about managing it and making it aesthetically pleasing,” said Bloomfield.
This would be the third modern box style mutli-plex to be built on Lakeshore, if approved.
“The greater demand is for modern design whether you like it or not. If you want to stop that we would need some guidelines and we don’t have that. Hopefully, we get to that with our design review,” said Bloomfield.
Around 20 people spoke out against the proposed development at the public hearing, with more mailing in their opposition.
READ MORE: Dozens oppose Lakeshore development
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