Staff:
- Displayed a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the application and responded to questions from Council.
The City Clerk advised that the following correspondence was received:
Letters of Opposition and Concern:
Colleen Crowe, Highland Drive N – Form Letter (19)
Helen And Steve Szabadi, Highland Drive N
Dennis Pearce, Highland Drive N.
Fiona Irvine, Highland Drive N
Carmel and David Worrall, 4 Willow Lane, 1675 Willow Crescent
Anne Millsap, 1712 Highland Drive N
Kevin Anderson, 1722 Highland Drive N.
Colleen Crowe and Neil Melnyk, 1719 Highland Drive N
Tamara and Terry Farquhar, 1709 Highland Drive N.
Letters of Support:
Debbie Rona, Selkirk Drive
Lidia B. Baumgart, Highland Drive N. – Form Letter (14)
Grefory Francik, McMurchie Road. West Kelowna
Birte Decloux, Applicant's Representative
- exceeds minimum area for RU6
- 7 stalls for vehicles - exceeds zoning requirements
- retention of green space - site coverage of 25.5% well under the 40% allowed
- retaining wall with property to the right - new retaining wall under 1.2M in height will be constructed
- vegetative matter - cedars removed; two trees in front yard close to the road will be protected by a covenant
- trees to rear of property have been removed for adjacent house development on the park
- setbacks vary in front yards along the street; varied property sizes on street
- constructing a new home for their son
Son - recently sold house on Westside and intend to move into existing house once new house is constructed. Mother provides childcare for children and plan to take care of mother.
Applicant confirmed that there is no opportunity to provide a legal suite in either home.
Confirmed the vegetation in the rear yard was removed via strata.
Mayor Basran invited anyone in the public gallery who deemed themselves affected to come forward, followed by comments of Council.
Gallery:
Garet Milsap 1712 Highland Drive North
Opposed - rock retention wall concern, not opposed to carriage house in rear or adding to existing home.
Fiona Irvine, 1718 Highland Drive North
Opposed - concerned regarding parking issues, the driveway is shared use strata driveway
Concerned about the density
Strata development in the rear has an extensive landscape plan still to be put in place, existing rock retention walls cant be protected
Not opposed to adding to the existing house or building a carriage house in the rear.
Neil Melnik, Highland Drive North
Opposed - plans submitted house will be 26 feet high which will be a solid wall at street level.
House is on a corner, if a house is built it impacts cars access being visible.
Kevin Anderson, Highland Drive North
Opposed - don't think this is the right project at the right time.
There were no further comments.
Applicant response
Privacy in terms of height of the building - existing trees will help mitigate the height of the house.
Houses are modest in size, last house the owner lived in was for 10 years.
Front yard setback - it is more than the 4.5M required by the zoning bylaw. Confirmed no variances being requested.
Owner response Lidyia BAumgart - Backyard pine trees were removed last year by neighbouring property.
Planting shrubs in front yard and removed the diseased cedar from the front yard
Applicant confirmed that access to the backyard is difficult to build a carriage house without impacting the neighbours yard.
Staff confirmed there is no issue with the slope as it is 8-10% not anticipating any slope issues. Confirmed sidewalk would be required to be built.
Staff confirmed that a replacement plan for coveneant trees will be required if they are damaged.