Photo: Meiklejohn Architects
The first accessible residential building of its kind was attacked Tuesday night by residents of Manhattan Drive in northern Kelowna.
Residents of the neighborhood spoke out en masse against the planned five-story building in the single-family house and argued with increased traffic, a lack of infrastructure with sidewalks and a narrow street, a radical change in the single-family neighborhood and the desire to stop all OCP and zone changes while the north end one goes through a comprehensive 18-month planning process.
But it was the characterization of Gary McEwan, the owner of the house on 955 Manhattan Drive, that drew the wrath of the developer, many members of the council, and some members of the wider disabled community.
His vision is to build a two-story townhouse along Manhattan Drive and behind it a five-story apartment with eight barrier-free units.
McEwan and his wife are parents to a son who needs 24/7 care. His wish is to build completely wheelchair-accessible units that are not available in the city.
In fact, a barrier-free apartment is the first of its kind in the city and one of only two in the whole country.
However, some in the neighborhood referred to his company as nothing more than a “cash grab” and “capitalism is the end game”.
McEwan’s comments were labeled “self-employed and moody, and accused of making a real estate game, and not about the disabled, special needs, and” those kinds of people. “
He has been accused of having put his son on the subject.
A handful of people with disabilities also spoke about the urgent need for this type of housing, but also about the disgust they felt after some comments from some residents.
The council also made an exception.
“I felt sick about some of the character assassinations and speculation that was going on,” said Coun. Gail given.
“I felt sick because I was really expecting something else.”
“Statements have been made that I wish I hadn’t heard either,” added Coun. Charlie Hodge.
On Tuesday, the rezoning of two apartment buildings to RM3, low-density apartment buildings, rather than the look or level of development, was up for debate.
The application for reallocation was approved unanimously.
“We see a small increase (in density) to RM3,” said Mayor Colin Basran.
“That doesn’t mean I support five floors.”
The council almost unanimously agreed that despite the rededication, the current look and size could be problematic.
On an initial reflection last month, planner Jocelyn Black said that a deviation of three floors allowed by the RM3 zone from the proposed five floors is “not considered acceptable”.
Any discussion of the amount would come back to the Council during the development application process.
