The changing face and height of Pandosy Street

Kelowna City Council has approved a development permit for an 11-storey mixed use condo building at 2606-2696 Pandosy Street.

The building looks set to make a major statement and will change the viewscape of the Pandosy Urban Centre.

The Official Community Plan allows for eight-storey developments in the area with an additional three storeys permitted as a so-called density bonus. In this case, there were no zoning changes or variances required and therefore the surrounding property owners did not need to be consulted.

The structure will replace the existing Southgate Centre strip mall between Osprey and Wardlaw Avenues.

The proposal includes five storefronts and 85 residential units: six microsuites, 42 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom units and 31 three-bedroom units.

While part of the development will be at 11-storeys, the rest will stand three-storeys tall.

It will have parking for 105 vehicles.

During deliberations Monday, some city councillors raised concerns about what they considered to be excessive height causing too much shadowing for neighboring properties.

"I don't see the need to go to 11-storeys in this particular location," councillor Ron Cannan said. "I don't think it fits within the form and character of the neighborhood."

However, the majority voted in favour of issuing the development permit figuring times have changed in recent years and a building of this scope and height is no longer out of the ordinary and is in keeping with what is allowed in that neighborhood.

"I've known this strip mall for many years and it's ripe for development," councillor Luke Stack said, speaking in favour of the changes and noting in years past, other new and higher buildings had been "a lovely addition" to the neighborhood despite initial concerns about shadowing.

"When I look at the architectural design of this building and the location of it, to me, it's a really good fit."

The developers will still require a building permit as the next step.