Despite objections from staff, Kelowna Council has unanimously approved a temporary sports complex for the city's north end. The proposed complex, which could accommodate ball hockey, basketball, lacrosse, floor and roller hockey, would be built on Ellis Street, north of Clement, next to the CN train station. Current Planning Supervisor, Danielle Noble, told council the 'Coverall Low Slope' building is the type often used in agricultural operations such as for storage, indoor equestrian arenas or bulk agricultural crops. "Staff have serious concerns with the form and character of this structure concerning the proximity to the urban centre core. The north area structure plan projects this area to develop from an industrial base to one of retail and commercial mixed use," says Noble. "As proposed the form of the anticipated temporary structure is typically found in agricultural settings and it's questionable whether this type of structure is suitable for a location adjacent to the Cultural District and an anticipated hotel site on the former Canada Land's property." Councillors had some concerns about improvements required for Ellis and St. Paul streets and the close proximity to the heritage rail station, however, felt overall the facility was a great addition to the area and filled a recreational void.
Bryan Ducharme, who put forth the application, told council he was prepared to make any improvements necessary to both Ellis and St. Paul and added there has been some thought into a buffer between the facility and the CN station. "Our first plan was to initially plant the biggest trees we could buy and transplant along that side that would grow and add sort of a buffer there," says Ducharme. "There are options of building sort of a false wall in front of there. At one point we had the idea of putting up something similar to the Laurel Building the way it is stepped, but that does add a lot of cost to our project." Ducharme has a 10-year lease on the property and told council the building is a temporary structure which can easily be moved if a permanent site is found. He adds there has been a lot of positive feedback from schools and sports leagues interested in utilizing the facility. "I think we have to find a way to make this work. A facility like this which is not coming to the taxpayer as a handout I think is a bonus we should be grasping," says Councillor Andre Blanleil. "I think it's a great facility and we need to find a way to make it work." While the CN station is a heritage building, Blanleil says the property is for sale and no one really knows what will become of it or when. Council voted to authorize the issuance of a building permit with several conditions including a provision that the applicant provide a Landscape Performance Security deposit in the amount of 125% of the estimated value of the landscaping within 180 days.
Bryan Ducharme, who put forth the application, told council he was prepared to make any improvements necessary to both Ellis and St. Paul and added there has been some thought into a buffer between the facility and the CN station. "Our first plan was to initially plant the biggest trees we could buy and transplant along that side that would grow and add sort of a buffer there," says Ducharme. "There are options of building sort of a false wall in front of there. At one point we had the idea of putting up something similar to the Laurel Building the way it is stepped, but that does add a lot of cost to our project." Ducharme has a 10-year lease on the property and told council the building is a temporary structure which can easily be moved if a permanent site is found. He adds there has been a lot of positive feedback from schools and sports leagues interested in utilizing the facility. "I think we have to find a way to make this work. A facility like this which is not coming to the taxpayer as a handout I think is a bonus we should be grasping," says Councillor Andre Blanleil. "I think it's a great facility and we need to find a way to make it work." While the CN station is a heritage building, Blanleil says the property is for sale and no one really knows what will become of it or when. Council voted to authorize the issuance of a building permit with several conditions including a provision that the applicant provide a Landscape Performance Security deposit in the amount of 125% of the estimated value of the landscaping within 180 days.
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