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Penticton approves controversial Lakeshore development

A split vote paved the way for a 4-storey 8-unit building
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Penticton city staff are recommending that council approve rezoning and variances to develop eight unit four storey apartment on iconic Lakeshore Drive. (Monique Tamminga Western News file photo)

After copious amounts of discussion, Penticton city council gave the go-ahead to a proposal for a four-storey apartment building on Lakeshore Drive.

The development, at 602 Lakeshore Drive, will see the lot rezoned to medium density multiple housing and an eight-unit building being placed on the property.

After a public hearing and feedback, the developer had adjusted the plan for the property and scrapped two of the variances they had originally requested.

The core eight-unit four-storey design remained though and that design proved too much for several members of council to support.

It was a split vote, with councillors Julius Bloomfield, Katie Robinson, Campbell Watt and Mayor John Vassilaki all supporting the project, while James Miller, Frank Regeher and Judy Sentes opposed the project as it was presented.

Regehr in particular took issue with the density and the rezoning to multi-family residential, given the lot’s size, and proposed that a three-storey six-unit development would be more fitting and more likely to be supported by the neighbourhood.

READ MORE: Penticton council to decide on controversial Lakeshore development

“If this goes forward it would be the tallest building from Winnipeg Street to the Sicamous,” said Regehr.

The potential for the rezoning to set a precedent for other future developments along the Lakeshore was a concern that Coun. James Miller expressed, along with feedback provided by residents during the public hearing.

“Why do we have the OCP if we’re not going to follow that?” said Miller.

The developer will be using permeable concrete as a means of avoiding the need to have the previously requested development variances for the walkways and parking space.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Brennan Phillips

About the Author: Brennan Phillips

Brennan was raised in the Okanagan and is thankful every day that he gets to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
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