Five-storey building proposed for Front Street parking lot

PENTICTON – Front Street could see another five-storey building constructed in a parking lot in a proposal coming before Penticton City Council today.

City staff are recommending first reading of an Official Community Plan amendment at city council's meeting today, Feb. 4, prior to sending the matter to public hearing to allow a five-storey, mixed use development at 24 Front Street.

In a report prepared for council, staff say the proposed building will generate positive impacts to Front Street, where several buildings of similar height have recently been constructed, including a five-storey building at 135 Front Street.

The amendment would increase permitted building height from 15 to 21 metres for three small parcels of land, currently zoned C5 (urban centre commercial) but which have historically been used for parking.

Staff believe the proposal is also “closely aligned” with a newly drafted Official Community Plan for the area that calls for an infill strategy focused on commercial and mixed-use buildings three to five storeys in height, rather than large scale developments. The downtown plan limits building height on Main and Front Streets to three storeys, but the proposal calls for the building’s upper storeys to be stepped back to maintain the street’s character and limit sight lines from the street.

The Downtown Penticton Association also provided a letter of support for the project.

Staff are recommending council support for the OCP amendment and a development variance permit to allow maximum permitted building height of 21 metres, in addition to a conditional development permit to allow construction of the building, prior to referring the application to the Feb. 19 public hearing.

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