Kelowna city council has staunchly rejected a Bertram Road highrise, at one point imagined to be the city香蕉视频直播檚 next tallest building.

The building, abutting the under-construction Bernard Block towers, was first proposed at 46 storeys in January 香蕉视频直播� 34 storeys taller than the 12 allowed in the area. That was whittled down to 35 storeys before it landed on councillors香蕉视频直播� desks for early consideration Monday but Coun. Ryan Donn still described the proposed height variance as a 香蕉视频直播渟lap in the face.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淵ou dropped off a 46-storey application the day after a 43-storey tower (was approved). It just feels like a PR stunt,香蕉视频直播� said Donn, referring to council香蕉视频直播檚 January approval of Water Street by the Park, currently slated to be Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 next tallest building.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 looking forward to voting against this today because I feel like it香蕉视频直播檚 a bit of a waste of time.香蕉视频直播�

The project was planned to have 276 homes, of which the developer said 44 per cent would be sold or rented below market value 香蕉视频直播� starting around $200,000. The developer maintained that it needed density to make the project affordable and provide some needed housing variety in the downtown core. The 12-storey zoning and even the 20-storey variance staff said it would support based on the developer香蕉视频直播檚 affordable offerings, would only be viable for a pricier development.

香蕉视频直播淚f we go to a 20-storey building, we香蕉视频直播檙e just building condos. Is that what you want? More luxury condos?香蕉视频直播� said Ed Romanowski, Mercidian Group香蕉视频直播檚 executive chair.

Mayor Colin Basran questioned the developer香蕉视频直播檚 thought process, asking why Mercidian would buy land in the most expensive areas in the city 香蕉视频直播� downtown 香蕉视频直播� with a goal of building affordable housing. He mentioned the city香蕉视频直播檚 other urban cores, Rutland, Landmark, Pandosy and Midtown, as other areas the developer could香蕉视频直播檝e explored.

香蕉视频直播淎nd now you香蕉视频直播檙e coming to say, 香蕉视频直播榃e paid so much for these, now we have to have this massive project; that香蕉视频直播檚 the only way it works,香蕉视频直播櫹憬妒悠抵辈�� he said.

香蕉视频直播淲ell, of course, because you just bought land in the most expensive part of our community.香蕉视频直播�

Council unanimously rejected the project.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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