Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
September 04, 2018 - 4:06 PM
VERNON - The North Okanagan is about to get an extra 216 apartments available for rent.
The apartments are scheduled for completion by early 2020 at 5770 Pleasant Valley Road.
Vernon council approved several minor variances at its meeting today, Sept. 4 giving the project the green light. The company behind the project, Kelowna-based High Street Ventures, has proposed three separate, four-storey apartment buildings exclusively for the rental market.
High Street Ventures vice president of development and sales Christina Wilson said construction should start this fall and be completed by early 2020. Wilson said the buildings would feature both one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from roughly 600 to 900 square feet, with roughly 25 per cent being one bedroom and the remaining units two bedroom.
Wilson said although prices had not been finalized and were currently based on today's market, one-bedroom units would be roughly $1,200 to $1,250 and two-bedroom units $1,350 to $1,400.
Wilson said the building would be 60 per cent more energy efficient than if it were built to minimum B.C. building code regulations. The building will feature triple glazed windows throughout and feature solar panels designed to provide enough power to supply common areas. The buildings will also include secure bicycle parking and a bike repair room as well as charging stations for electric cars.
Councillor Scott Anderson voted against approving the development based on the reduced parking the developer was asking for. High Street Ventures had requested 324 parking stalls instead of 342 as required by existing bylaws. Staff's recommendation was for council to approve the reduced number of parking stalls. Anderson said although he was very much in favour of development, he couldn't support the project with a reduction of parking stalls because it would lead to residents parking on the surrounding streets.
Wilson told council previous developments had shown each apartment on average uses 1.5 parking lot stalls. The developer also pushed the fact the development was easily accessible to public transit and the company was considering the possibility of the apartment development hosting a car sharing co-operative program. The remaining councillors voted to approve the reduced number of parking stalls.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2018