The Kampe estate development proposal has failed again in front of Penticton city council Tuesday.
During their lengthy Tuesday meeting, the proposal failed in a 4-3 vote, with mayor John Vassilaki, coun. Katie Robinson, newly elected coun. James Miller and Frank Regehr against the rental buildings project going to a public hearing.
Robinson then put a motion to ‘close and abandon’ the proposal for 435 Green Avenue.
“This will give the neighbours a break for six months when the developer can come back,” said Robinson.
After failing once to get to the next steps with city council, this time instead of two six-storey buildings, something residents in the area felt was too much of a leap, the developer is proposing one six-storey building and one four-storey building instead.
That would drop the number of residential units as well from 151 down to 130. The development would have mainly two bedroom and one bedrooms with some three bedroom units.
The four-storey building would be the one placed facing the street-based on the proposal before council.
The previous proposal made it through a single reading and had a public hearing before council ended up split with a 3-3 vote on whether to go forward.
“It’s too large for the area,” said Vassilaki who voted against it last time. “I also learned that the developer would charge for parking spots which means people could park in front of their own homes and would park on the street.”
Coun. Julius Bloomfield supported the development because Penticton is in a housing crisis.
“If we are not going to allow development because of neighbours’ concerns, how do we deal with affordability in Penticton?” Bloomfield questioned.
Miller’s concern was the lack of consultation with the Penticton Indian Band.
Coun. Judy Sentes said we need rentals to entice workers to the community.
“Our service industry is desperate for help. We need housing,” she said.
READ MORE: Former Kampe estate back at council table
