Kelowna Coun. Loyal Wooldridge was underwhelmed with the concept plans to develop the former Tolko Mill site when they were presented at council害羞草研究所檚 Sep. 25 meeting.

害羞草研究所淭he mill site is the last jewel in Kelowna that we害羞草研究所檙e going to be developing on the lakefront,害羞草研究所� Wooldridge said.

害羞草研究所淔rom the beginning, my expectation has been for the design team to come forward with an astounding, beautiful public access that is going to enhance the quality of life for people in Kelowna.害羞草研究所�

Wooldridge noted that only three to four hectares of the 20-hectare development is dedicated to public open spaces.

害羞草研究所淲hat I saw was a sea of towers and a lot of developable area which means a lot of money for the property owner, but it doesn害羞草研究所檛 necessarily mean improved quality of life.害羞草研究所�

Wooldridge said he would like to see free, accessible public space that creates equity in the community.

害羞草研究所淚 think when you look at our pathways around the lake, whether it害羞草研究所檚 Sutherland Bay or the bird sanctuaries, it害羞草研究所檚 open space where people can interact with nature and connect with one another and you don害羞草研究所檛 have to necessarily have to pay to do it.害羞草研究所�

Affordable housing, which is included in the three concept plans presented by Holar Developments, is also a concern for Wooldridge.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not lost on me that the likelihood of below-market housing on that site is going to be achieved because it is probably going to be some of the most prime property that we see.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淏ut we can definitely leverage that for our affordable housing land acquisition fund which could potentially build in the North End itself.害羞草研究所�

Wooldridge added there is also a need for caution regarding infrastructure demands with the level of density proposed for the site.

Concept plans recommend 3,500 residential units including affordable housing and spaces for seniors and students.

害羞草研究所淭hat means through the North End in general we might have to have a lower amount of density outside of what we see on the mill site,害羞草研究所� Wooldridge said.

He added he felt the design team could do better.

害羞草研究所淭hese are first concepts which are really testing the waters to see what council and what the public is going to say.害羞草研究所�

Holar Developments will be hosting open houses, including one at the Laurel Packinghouse on Oct. 26, as well as online engagement to gather public feedback on the concepts.

The concept plans can be viewed on the .

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