The proposed Wharton Street development is a little closer to becoming a reality now that the municipal design committee has reviewed the plans.
On Thursday afternoon, developers met with the committee to present their plans.
“This is the first step in the development permit process,” said municipal planner Ian McIntosh.
Now that the committee has reviewed the plans, the permit application will come before council for approval.
Once council has given its approval, the next step in the process is the building permit.
The plans presented show the design of the first building in what is expected to become a multi-phase project.
The building, which will be at the corner of Wharton Street and Kelly Avenue, facing Memorial Park, will house the museum and library once it is completed.
It will also contain residential units.
The design has a terraced appearance, with the upper floors of the five-storey building set back from the main level.
“It’s a big building, but it feels small,” said Joe Mahovlich, one of the developers.
There is a lot of pedestrian space in the design.
Randy Gibson, one of the developers, said those involved with the project have received comments and made changes as a result. One of those changes came from a suggestion that the building should be bright. The colours will include tan and red brick.
Gibson said the developers hope to begin construction this summer as they work for an occupancy date of December, 2014.
The present development is the second time a large-scale development concept has been proposed for the area.
Earlier, Kamloops-based developer Mike Rink of New Futures Development Group had been considering a seven-storey development at the same site, but the plan expired Jan. 15, 2011.
The present developers first presented their plans to the public a year ago.
