By John MoorhouseTuesday, April 17, 2007 http://www.pentictonherald.ca/stories.php?id=39535
A "sky’s the limit" attitude won’t cut it in Penticton, says the chairman of the city’s community plan review task force. Coun. Garry Litke said Tuesday the task force’s final recommendations on amending the official community plan as it pertains to high density development reflect much of the public’s concerns over building height in specific areas of the city. Litke said the uproar over the height of some proposed new developments had a real impact on the task force’s final recommendations. "I think it dampened the people who were looking skyward," he said. "They realize the sky is not going to be the limit in Penticton. It’s just not on for this community -- people are not going to tolerate it."
However, Litke said the committee feels there are some areas where buildings up to 15 storeys high might be appropriate. The plan calls outlines six village nodes, mainly on the Main Street-Skaha Lake Road corridor. They include: # Downtown -- Proposed building heights range from four storeys to 15 storeys (by the 160 Lakeshore development) near Martin Street and Estabrook Avenue. # Plaza Village -- Eight-storey maximum between the Penticton Plaza and Fairview Road. # Cherry Lane Village -- Maximum height of 10 storeys for the area surrounding Cherry Lane Shopping Centre and Zellers. # Peach Tree Village -- Building heights could reach a maximum of 15 storeys. The area has been cited as having the greatest potential for high-density development. # Skaha (Yorkton) Village -- Buildings of eight to 12 storeys are proposed for this important tourist-commercial and resort neighbourhood. # North Gateway -- Maximum height of 15 storeys is proposed for the Westminster Avenue-Riverside Drive area near the South Okanagan Event Centre. A maximum of two storeys is suggested along Lakeshore Drive.
Full details will be included in an information flyer to be distributed this Friday. City planner Donna Butler said the flyer will outline the most significant proposed amendments included in the community plan for high density development. Residents are invited to review the flyer and provide comments in writing by April 30, prior to the amended community plan going before council for approval in May. Litke said it’s hoped the OCP review will result in a sharp reduction in applications to amend the community plan for areas not currently designated for high density development. "We’re trying to make a plan that is enforceable and has a rationale behind it and will accommodate the growth," he said. The task force chairman said knowing the specific areas designated for higher density might make it easier for developers, as well as city planning staff and the public. "It’s very important now for the community to take an interest in the recommendations that this committee is bringing, because it will affect the face of our community and affect our skylines in the future."
The community plan review was launched in early 2006 to deal specifically with new high-density developments. However, there was no moratorium on new rezoning applications while the review was conducted. Some proposed developments generated intense community debate. Hundreds of people packed the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre during two public hearings in November and January to voice opposition to the height of three towers included in the proposed Penticton Waterside Resort on South Main Street. Council later approved the rezoning after the developers agreed to restrict the towers’ height to 35.1 metres (115 feet). Originally, plans called for two of the towers to exceed 45 metres. The flyer will be available at City Hall, the Library-Musuem complex and community centre, as well as online through the city’s website at www.penticton.ca.
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