Kelowna City Council authorized the Mission Group to proceed with development of a new "campus-residential" building in UBCO's south area.
Image Credit: Contributed
February 21, 2014 - 2:47 PM
KELOWNA – Commutes between home and UBCO campus may soon be a lot shorter for some students and staff.
Mission Group Enterprises has been granted a permit to build a three storey, 66 unit building for UBCO's south area.
City of Kelowna Urban Planning Officer Ryan Smith brought the proposal before council Monday, calling the building that will occupy 945 Academy Way “campus-residential in nature”.
“It is targeted principally towards students and staff of the adjacent UBC Okanagan campus,” Smith says.
The development is part of the University’s south area development plan, which was approved by council in 1998 and revised in 2007. Council authorized the issuance of a building permit Monday, saying the building fits with the area and fills a need that is only increasing.
I think it’s perfect,” says Counc. Mohini Singh. “It’s just what UBC needs and what the students need. It will reduce the carbon footprint and the pressure on transit. I’d like to see it move forward.”
The exact number of parking stalls for the project has not been determined, however plans do include an underground parkade and at least one surface lot.
The proposal also incorporates access to a multi-use pathway that runs along a Fortis line as well as to another path that winds along the eastern side of the site.
“The path will continue south towards the city with the ultimate intent of connecting through the Sol Terra neighbourhood all the way down to a bike route on Sexsmith,” Smith says.
“The contemporary design is meant to compliment the surrounding development so that this fits in with the developments already going on to the north that is mixed-use in nature.”
The 66 residential units within the building are comprised of a mix of studios, and one, two, and three bedroom units, with 38 of the total being two bedroom units.
Image Credit: Contributed
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca, call (250) 718-0428 or tweet @AdamProskiw.
News from © iNFOnews, 2014