A three-tower development proposed for Coronation Avenue will not be going ahead as planned.

City council went with a staff recommendation to deny rezoning and development permits over concerns of building heights and density. Safari Capital wants to develop 16 properties on the south side of Coronation and build mixed-use towers on a podium between St. Paul and Richter streets.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e really hoping you can see this a really good first idea,sa国际传媒� said David Jacobson with the ownership group.

Staff told council the massing and visual impact of the project still needs work, and there are concerns over it fitting in with neighbouring properties of lower scale in the four to six-storey range. Staff suggested there are better spots downtown for the development.

sa国际传媒淲e did a lot of work in the Official Community Plan (OCP) in stepping down areas of the city,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Luke Stack. sa国际传媒淚 think is going in the opposite direction. I think itsa国际传媒檚 too much for this site.sa国际传媒�

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge was also concerned that the podium for the towers would stretch nearly the length of a city block.

sa国际传媒淚 feel like wesa国际传媒檙e pushing the envelope on where to park this project,sa国际传媒� he said.

Despite the concerns, council encouraged the developer to continue working with city staff to come back with a reimagined project.

sa国际传媒淚 think there is potential here and I think it would be an opportunity missed if we couldnsa国际传媒檛 find an amicable solution,sa国际传媒� said Coun. Brad Sieben. sa国际传媒淚 hope to see this again.sa国际传媒�

The project includes 708 residential units with 70 per cent of them designated for rentals and the rest slated for condos. An 80-room hotel is also part of the development.

sa国际传媒淚 see many benefits,sa国际传媒� said Mayor Colin Basran. sa国际传媒淭he housing, the hotel, itsa国际传媒檚 a nice looking project, but itsa国际传媒檚 beyond where it needs to be. Wesa国际传媒檙e not quite there yet, but I think we could get there.sa国际传媒�

Council voted unanimously not to approve the rezoning and OCP changes needed to move the project forward. Coun. Maxine DeHart excused herself from the vote citing a conflict of interest, as she is employed in the hotel business.

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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