— Many residents opposed seven-storey height of project —

(OSOYOOS TIMES — August 15, 2007) —

By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times

The Indigo project received second and third readings from Town Council at its meeting Monday night, practically guaranteeing that the seven-storey luxury resort condominium building, slated for the northeast end of Cottonwood Drive, will be constructed.
The issue has been a drawn out and contentious one. On Aug. 2, nearly 200 Osoyoos citizens made their way to the Legion for a public hearing on the issue.
Concerns over the building's unprecedented height and modern architecture have created noticeable unease, even anger, among some Osoyoos residents in recent months. Others feel the development is perfectly suited for the town.
The fact that the Indigo development has been a strongly divisive issue in the community was not lost on any member of Council.
It was quite a lengthy process, said Councillor Stu Wells, who emphasized that he has made long, personal deliberations on the issue. Wells said he believes the structure to be in compliance with the Town's OCP, and likes the fact the developers are striving to make a relatively small ecological footprint.
It's seven floors and, to the best of my knowledge, the the seventh is only 40 per cent of the footprint, Wells said.
The Indigo development is to be a terraced, U-shaped building where each floor is fewer square feet than the one below it.
I don't find that excessive, the councillor said.
Wells also pushed for a covenant that would prevent the Indigo development from including a bar or licensed restaurant. While the building does include plans for a sandwich and coffee shop, Indigo principal Greg Rohland has promised that any commercial venture in the development would stop there.
Councillor Allan Carswell concurred with Wells on the covenant.
This is something they've promised, so let's get it in writing, Carswell said. The councillor added he would also like Rohland's promise that the building will feature only a small pier, and not a full-size marina, on paper.
Carswell admitted he has mixed feelings about the Indigo project.
Do I want the park? Yep. Do I want the the cash? You bet, he said, referring to 0.4-acre public park and $625,000 in density bonus the town will receive from the development. Coupled with money for road reparation and sewer expansion, the Town of Osoyoos will receive more than $1 million dollars from the Indigo developers.
However, Carswell remains leery that the building's height will set an unwelcome precedent for similarly-sized or larger buildings in the future.
I think it absolutely sets a precedent because it has no rules, the councillor said, emphasizing the Town should be setting fixed, specific, consistent guidelines with regards to development.
Mayor John Slater agreed that Indigo will change Osoyoos..
Will this set a precedent? he asked rhetorically. Absolutely.rnSlater believes Indigo will set a standard in quality. He said he likes the fact the building will be concrete. The mayor also pointed out that when White Sands was being built in the early '90s, there were concerns it would ruin Osoyoos.
So, for better or worse, the Indigo project will almost certainly rise on Cottonwood Drive. It is extremely rare for a municipal decision to be turned back at its fourth and final reading, normally passed at the next Council meeting after second and third readings are passed.