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Luxury lakefront tower and townhouses in Penticton sent back to developer

Council said putting a concrete wall against existing building is unfair
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A concrete wall put up against the second-floor units of the existing Lakeview Terraces has sent a Penticton luxury waterfront development proposal back to the developer.

The local developer was in front of Penticton city council on Tuesday requesting a height variance to increase the maximum height from 24 metres to 35 m to build a 10-storey tower.

But several on council took issue with a parkade wall that would go up against the balconies of a few second-floor Terraces units, essentially robbing those residents of sunlight.

On Tuesday, city council voted 5 to 2 to table the variance request and direct staff to work with the developer on the wall issue. Councillors Frank Regehr and Campbell Watt were opposed.

The developer is proposing to construct 99 luxury residential units named The Beach House in the form of townhouses and apartments that will front onto Marina Way and Vancouver Avenue.

The development will feature an outdoor pool and amenities area.

READ MORE: 10 storey tower and townhouses proposed for Marina Way

“The neighbours on the second floor of the Terraces will experience serious health and financial hardships. You are taking away their sunlight. This hardship is intolerable,” said Coun. Judy Sentes.

Coun. Katie Robinson had similar concerns and was the one who made the motion to table the request.

“I have a concern about the concrete wall. I’m concerned about livability and take another look.”

The wall will impact two to three units on the second floor.

The developer said they are challenged with the topography of the site but were mindful of the Terraces in the design, moving the tower as far away as possible so as to not block their lake views.

If the developer brought the size of the tower down to the allotted 24 metres, it would eliminate the need for a parkade wall there, pointed out several councillors.

“In asking for a height variance means more units to sell which goes to your profit line,” said Robinson.

But the developer told council that sending the proposal back would be ‘detrimental.’

“From a timing perspective, it would push us from summer sales to fall,” he said.

But one councillor wasn’t buying that.

“This proposal is like the Shangri-La. You will have no trouble marketing this,” said Sentes.

The site has had several go-arounds with council, but even though the city approved the last proposal in 2018, the land has sat undeveloped.

On the first try, the beginning foundation works were done, however works stopped in 2008. In 2017, a proposal was brought forward for a 7-storey, 13-unit apartment building. The towers were proposed very close to the Lakeview Terraces.

Residents at Lakeview were very opposed to the development blocking their view and shadowing their homes.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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