The City of Penticton is looking for feedback on whether to allow two six-storey towers at the former Kampe property.
The Green Ave. West property was purchased by a developer who brought forward the request for rezoning to council on March 16.
The property, previously owned by Penticton philanthropist David E. Kampe, was last listed for sale at $4.5 million.
READ MORE: “Our community has had its heart broken”: Penticton celebrates life of David Kampe
The two towers would be intended as rental apartment buildings, offering a total of 158 units in a mix of one to three-bedroom apartments.
The proposed plan also includes spaces for 197 parking spots and storage for bicycles, a community garden and dog run, and a 15-metre setback for development from the wetlands on the west side of the property and six-metre setback from the oxbows to the north.
As part of the feedback process, city staff will be hosting two online information sessions on March 30, from 6 p.m. until 7, and April 9 from noon until 1 p.m. Registration is required, and can be done through the shapeyourcitypenticton.ca website.
The size of the property would allow both the large number of residential units and parking spaces, which Mayor John Vassilaki found to be a mixed blessing.
“We don’t have large estates in the city like this anymore,” said Mayor John Vassilaki. “The majority of them are gone, broken up into smaller detached homes, and there’s a beautiful home on that property and it looks like a park. It’s quite unfortunate, but progress cannot be stopped and this is one of those sites that progress has to take hold.
“I think the owner of the property would turn over in his grave if he knew they would be tearing down his home.”
Seymour Pacific Developments, which built the 99 units at Ridgecrest Place on Duncan Avenue and 119 units at Valley Views on Kinney Avenue, provided the plans for the Green Avenue project to council.
In addition to the online information sessions, there will also be paper copies of the information and a feedback form available at the Shape Your City kiosk at City Hall, which is still open only from 9 a.m. until noon Mondays to Fridays.
Following the information gathering, there will also be a separate public hearing if council decides to go forward with considering the development.
“There are very few development parcels of this size in Penticton. This is a rare opportunity to add needed housing at the density proposed in an area that can accommodate it,” said Blake Laven, Director of Development Services with the City of Penticton. “We are looking forward to understanding if the community supports this vision for the property.”
To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.
<>@PentictonNews
newstips@pentictonwesternnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.