Big mixed-use development expected for property beside Kelowna’s Gyro Beach

KELOWNA – A high-profile piece of property in the Pandosy town centre could soon see a mixed-use development by Al Stober Construction.

Community planning manager Ryan Smith confirmed staff have had “pre-application” meetings with Stober’s development team but have not received an official development proposal.

“It’s definitely a prominent piece of property, one of the gateways to the Pandosy town centre,” Smith said.

Western Investor reported in July the sale of the 1.15 acre property which is just steps away from Gyro Beach for $4.9 million. The property at 3326 Lakeshore Rd. was purchased by the City of Kelowna for $2.95 million in 2006.

Smith said the property will require rezoning to C4 for a mixed-use commercial and residential development which is what his department would like to see on the site.

“He’s definitely a qualified developer and well known to us,” Smith added.

Unless Stober comes back with a particularly ambitious proposal, Smith said the city is unlikely to ask for a comprehensive development agreement.

Al Stober is a well-known local developer responsible for the Landmark office complex and more recently, part of the Central Green development on the former Kelowna Senior Secondary site.

The sale of the land by the city is part of a long-term plan to close the dangerous Watt Road intersection with Lakeshore Road, providing safer access further north. Plans are also to extend Lanfranco Road through to Watt Road.


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John McDonald

John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.

It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.

But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.

If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca