WATCH: Taller towers OKed for former mobile home park redevelopment

Lawmakers have signed off on revised plans for a massive redevelopment project on the former Hiawatha RV Park.

It comes after a lengthy public hearing for what’s been dubbed Ledge on Lakeshore. The new design was sent to a public hearing after the updates were initially signed off on earlier in May.

Westcorp, the builders behind the project, asked for an allowance to build up to 17-storeys from 11. The project has also been reconfigured, removing two buildings, and pulling the main towers further back from the Lakeshore Road.

All the parking has been consolidated into a central, three-level parkade, which will have rooftop green space. A daycare was also added to the plans, as well as commercial units near Lakeshore. The entire project will be rental properties, managed by Westcorp. It’s anticipated the final development will have 996 units.

Several neighbours took to the podium to raise concerns about the project, with many focusing on the impact to traffic, the new height of the towers, the environmental impact, and the overall impact to the existing community.

Complains heard

“I don’t think that developments are where the beauty within Kelowna comes from. I believe that it comes from all the different aspects of Kelowna, including the riparian areas, the beaches,” Walter Havens said. “That’s about the people that live here and the city that we have and the city we want to move forward with.”

Craig Morgan was mostly concerned with parking, and the additional volume that might be added to the surrounding streets. He said he’s been forced to call bylaw officers at least once a week for parking issues on Cook Road. His garbage pickups have also been missed because cars will park in front of the bins or knock them over.

Another speaker worried the shadowing from some of the buildings, even the shorter four-storey ones, cast shadows in backyards and pools. People would also be peering into their yards, she said.

Dave Allen said the 17 storey towers were “over the top,” and that 1,000 units was too many. And while he said he wasn’t against development, he said the fact the neighbourhood is mostly single-family homes needs to be respected.

“I worked very hard to buy a house in my neighbourhood and there is pride of ownership in this area,” he said. “I don’t want the transient traffic, the noise, the litter, the potential vandalism, and theft. … I wasn’t aware it was going to be 100 per cent rental and that does change the nature of the types of people you might have there.”

Councillors had few, if any, criticisms for the project, heralding many positive aspects, such as the fact it will be all rentals, the creation and enhancement of a linier park along Wilson Creek, and the money that will come in to support future park development.

Lawmakers give go-ahead

“This is going to be a community. There are going to be 1,000 people living here,” Coun. Luke Stack said. “It is a community of tomorrow, but it is still a community.”

Coun. Loyal Wooldridge was of the same mindset, admitting that “changing community is never comfortable.”

He agreed the new design used the site more efficiently and enhanced the public realm. On greater public benefit, Wooldridge said around $14 million will come from the project to buy more parkland and improve existing ones.

“When we talk about community benefits, I don’t think we can lose sight of the added benefits that we will continue to see into the future.”

Coun. Ryan Donn said the updated plans were dramatic improvements, since the hotel was removed, and short-term rentals won’t be allowed.

“I’ll be supportive for the community benefit, and I think it is a dramatic improvement from what we had originally for that area.”

The first 200 units, all two- and three-bedroom townhomes, are already under construction, with first occupancy expected in early fall 2022.

According to a sales website, the second phase is expected to get underway this fall. Full build-out should take five years.

The redevelopment has a long history, starting in 2007 when Westcorp bought the property, which was a 55-plus community with 94 mobile homes.