THAT the Board of Directors deny an amendment to Development Permit No. D-09-00866.000
Purpose: To complete landscaping at the OK Falls Hotel building.
Owner: R 134 Enterprises Ltd. Agent: Calvin Meiklejohn
Legal: Parcel A (KV78711), Plan 3787, DL 374, SDYD Civic: 1045 Highway 97, OK Falls
A Development Permit was issued in 2010 for the construction of a new 71 seat deck along the front of the OK Falls Hotel. The Permit provided for landscaping of the site and a security of $5900. The applicant is seeking to amend Development Permit No. D-09-00866.000 in order to adjust to landscaping requirements.
Specifically, the applicant proposes to amend Schedule ‘X-4’ of the Permit by reducing the amount of landscaping (numerous assorted trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennials grasses, and feature rocks) near the north and south entrances to the parking lot and at the rear of the property, to 4 shrubs and two trees-in-grate.
Community Plan Guidelines
The OCP Guidelines for the Okanagan Falls Commercial Development Area encourage developers to provide “landscaping between parking areas and roadways”, which Development Permit No. D-09-00866.000 achieved by requiring the planting of numerous assorted trees, shrubs, groundcovers, perennials grasses, and feature rocks. However, the proposed amendment seeks to drastically reduce the amount of landscaping to 4 shrubs and two trees-in-grate.
Given the prominent location of the hotel along Highway 97, the installation of landscaping to screen the parking area is seen to “encourage the commercial area to develop as a pedestrian oriented, vibrant hub of mixed use commercial and residential land uses”. Generally, landscaping is seen to greatly improve the site and contribute positively to the commercial character of Okanagan Falls.
Vehicle Access
The applicant has stated that the installation of the required landscaping may impede or prevent entry of delivery vehicles. However, the potential for interference beyond what currently exists appears to be low, as the required landscaping would not extend any further than the existing parking stalls, and truck access issues are not readily apparent from either the plans provided or aerial photographs and have not been verified with a dimensioned drawing indicating turning radiuses.
The applicant has stated that installation of the landscaping will occupy at least 8 parking spaces. However, the statement is not reflective of the current development permit, which does not require
landscaping within parking spaces.
Water Main
The applicant has stated that installation of the required landscaping may potentially affect the OFID water main that exists along the southern property boundary. However, it has not been demonstrated how the installation of modest landscaping, mainly in the form of flowers, grasses, shrubs, and groundcover, might affect the water main.