Concept drawing of the Port Okanagan development (image courtesy of the City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

Port Okanagan proposal

Preliminary approval granted for lakefront residential/hotel project

Mar 29, 2022 | 5:00 AM

A significant development involving residential, commercial and hotel buildings has received preliminary support from Vernon City Council.

During the Regular Meeting Monday, March 28, council was presented with requests for an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and rezoning applications to build the development at 2525 Lakeshore Road and 7295 Okanagan Landing Road.

The proposed project, called Port Okanagan, requires the OCP be amended for a portion of the 16 acre property to build ‘Mixed-use – Medium Density Commercial and Residential’ buildings on existing park land, and to change another section from mixed-use to park land.

The proposal sees the south-west section of 7295 Okanagan Landing Road redesignated to allow for a four to nine storey multi-family residential building with parking. In the southeast section of the property, the plan calls for a two to four story commercial development with or without residential units and surface parking, along with a six to 10 storey multi-family residential building and parkade.

The northeast section of the site would see a hotel of up to 10 storeys and a convention centre constructed, along with commercial space and an above ground parkade.

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The remainder of the property off Okanagan Landing Road would be left as park space.

The proposal also calls for the development of a two to four storey retail building with professional services on the second storey on the northern end of the property, along with a maximum six storey multi-family residential building with parking. The remainder of the Lakeshore Road property would be designated as a private park due to the wetlands on the site, though public access would be maintained.

The master plan for the proposed Port Okanagan development (image courtesy of the City of Vernon)

It was also noted that the buildings would be constructed in a tiered fashion to minimize shadow impacts and would follow the requirements set out under Vernon’s Waterfront Network Plan.

The proposed plan is still being developed, and will be modified to take into account the updated results of flood mapping in the area.

If fully approved, an archeologist will be hired to be on site during construction to ensure any archeological findings are preserved.

The developer has filed for environmental approvals from both the provincial and federal governments due to the proposed project being on or near sensitive wetlands, though those have not been granted as of yet.

The site would also have trails and pathways allowing for beach access. Those paths would connect to city property, allowing for a trail network to be established in the area.

The roundabout shown on the master plan design attachment is a recommendation, though the style of the intersection will be modified following consultations with the transportation department.

City council unanimously supported the proposal, allowing the developer to move forward with public engagement sessions over the next two years.

The plan will be brought back to council for further recommendations and approval after those sessions have been held.