No public hearing needed for Okanagan’s next 35-storey highrise

An application to rezone downtown Kelowna land for one of the city’s highest buildings does not need to go to a public hearing.

Under new rules imposed by the provincial government last fall, a rezoning application that complies with a city’s Official Community Plan does not have to go to public hearing.

This property, at 1405 St. Paul Street, just across Doyle Avenue from the site of the upcoming UBC Okanagan downtown campus, is slated for highrises so this one can skip that step.

The report going to council on Monday recommends the rezoning be given three of the required four readings that day but the final adoption be held until development and development variance permits are approved.

The report does not say how high it is proposed to be but it was initially proposed to be 42 storeys with 353 suites.

READ MORE: Third 40-plus storey tower proposed for downtown Kelowna

Documents on the City of Kelowna website now show 35 storeys, which includes a five-storey podium, with 341 suites. That means a height variance will be needed and the public will have a chance to speak then.

The project is proposed by Chilliwack-based Kerkhoff Construction which is just finishing work on what is currently the highest building in Kelowna, the One Water Street tower, which is 36 storeys.

Construction has started on two of the three Water Street by the Park highrises bordering on Leon Avenue. That includes one at 42 storeys that will make it the city's tallest building.

 – This story was updated at 9:40 a.m., May 9, 2022 to change the height to 35 storeys.

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