By Roy Woods, Special to the Times Chronicle

What a difference four weeks and 1.32 metres can make.

By a narrow margin, Osoyoos council on Tuesday approved a height variance that will allow a developer to go ahead with a 40-unit rental apartment building at 6828 89th Street across from Osoyoos Elementary School.

Specifically, the variance increases the allowable building height from 13 metres (42.65 feet) to 14.48 metres (47.5 feet).

According to a report to council from planner Shannon Duong, the developer says:

  • “The extra height is required to provide enough headroom at the underground parking level to accommodate accessible parking space for a van with (a) lift;” and
  • “The floor to ceiling height of (three metres) will provide nine feet (of) headroom for residents instead of the standard eight-foot height. This extra height represents larger volume and spacious feeling and is fast becoming the new standard.”

The variance request was an update from one that was rejected by council at its May 14 meeting. That application sought to vary the allowable height from 13 metres to 15.8 metres (51.8 feet).

That request was rejected by council in a four-to-one vote, with only Councillor Zach Poturica voting in favour.

But on Tuesday, faced with a proposal 1.32 metres (4.3 feet) lower, Mayor Sue McKortoff and Councillor Jim King switched their votes, leading to a three-to-two vote in favour of the variance request.

One of the objections to the proposal, reiterated on Tuesday by Councillor Myers Bennett, was that a building of such height would require the town to buy a fire truck with aerial apparatus to reach the high floors.

Bennett said he wouldn’t want to “burden future councils” with having to make such an expensive purchase.

Councillor Johnny Cheong mentioned, however, that there are already several buildings in town that will need such an extended-ladder truck. McKortoff pointed out that such a purchase is already in the capital budget for 2028.

There was also one letter from a resident complaining that the proposed variance “would adversely impact views.”

Duong’s report highlights the recent emphasis by the provincial government on increasing residential densities and the availability of rental housing. 

“With respect to this application, it is noted that the province is encouraging local governments to not take into consideration how projects may impact the character of existing low density residential neighbourhoods (i.e., via shadowing, access to sunlight, views, outdoor privacy, etc.) when approving new multi-unit developments,” the report says. 

Fire safety was also raised by Osoyoos Fire Rescue Chief Corey Kortmeyer who noted Osoyoos already exceeds the recommended three over-height structures for municipalities without a ladder fire truck. While the Five Year Financial plan has earmarked the purchase of this new equipment, it is not until 2028.

Attached to the staff report was a letter from one of the owners of Southside Builders Mart of Oliver. Troy Belton expressed concern about the apparent lack of business friendliness in Osoyoos.

“Now we are at fear of losing a 40-unit rental building, which the town desperately needs. We have been listening to multiple builders who would like to be building in the town of Osoyoos, but just simply refuse to as the way things are done in the town,” he wrote. 

If it proceeds, the proposed apartment building would offer some relief for the affordable housing crunch faced by the town.

A “housing agreement” attached to the property says that for 10 years, all 40 units would be “used exclusively for rental housing and that at least 10 per cent of the apartments will be designated as “below Market Value Housing Units.”