Two apartment projects coming before Penticton city council

New developments being proposed for Penticton could see another 75 residential units and 2,400 square feet of new commercial retail space added downtown.

A second proposal, if approved by city council, involves construction of a new six storey, 165-unit apartment building in the south end.

An application for a variance and a building permit for a five-storey, mixed-use building at 285 Westminster Avenue West will be presented to Penticton city council tomorrow May 5.

City staff are recommending council approve a variance to allow an increase in the maximum percentage of off-street small car parking spaces from 25 to 44 per cent, in addition to granting a development permit for the project.

The property is located at the corner of Brunswick Street along the edge of downtown and is currently designated in the Official Community Plan as “downtown mixed use.”

Several planning applications have been made on the location in recent years. It was rezoned to 'urban centre commercial’ in 2018.

The property was once part of 249 Westminster Avenue but was recently subdivided.

Staff are also recommending council approve a building permit to allow construction of a six-storey apartment building at 3352 Hemlock Street at tomorrow’s meeting.

The recommendation also comes with a request to approve a variance to at-grade amenity area requirements from 20 m² per dwelling unit to 18.3 m² per dwelling unit.

The project was previously included in a larger development at 3301 Skaha Lake Road known as Alysen Place in 2006.

A staff report to council says the project was initially approved as three, multi-storey residential condominium towers. Work was completed on the first building and the second and third building were started before construction halted during the 2008 recession.

The current proposal before council would see one, six-storey, 165-unit apartment building constructed on a property designated high density multiple housing, which allows for the proposed project.

The project would result in the City receiving $915,420 in development cost charges.

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