Kelowna's director of planning Ryan Smith has questioned whether the city is pushing the boundaries of building height, but his department is recommending city council approve what would become Kelowna's tallest building.
Planning will make that recommendation for UBC Okanagan's proposed 46-storey downtown campus at a public hearing July 26.
"It is deemed an appropriate location downtown and is considered a special project due to the applicant and institutional use, the University of British Columbia," a staff report supporting the application states.
"This type of height and density would not normally be supported for private development. As such, the creation of a CD zone (CD28) was deemed most appropriate to creatively and collaboratively meet the unique project objectives.
"This is considered a signature project that will contribute to the diversity and vibrancy of the Downtown Urban Centre, and is consistent with policies in the Kelowna 2040 Official Community Plan and objectives of Imagine Kelowna."
A previous application for a 46-storey tower on Bertram around the corner from the Bernard Block development was shot down by staff and city council early last year. That project is back at the drawing board.
Plans for the proposed campus on the former Daily Courier site at 550 Doyle Avenue would include a four-storey underground parkade which will allow for more creative street level amenities, the university's school of nursing and social work as well as more than 500 units of residential housing for students taking those programs.
Concerns were raised by councillors Mohini Singh and Charlie Hodge about overall building heights in downtown Kelowna, however both supported moving the application to a public hearing.
