Rezoning of Kelowna's Cadder House site up for debate next week

The rezoning of a property on Pandosy Street, which is home to a popular heritage house, is up for review by Kelowna councillors.

During Monday’s afternoon meeting, Kelowna councillors will be asked to consider approving a rezoning application for 2124 Pandosy St.

Development plans submitted in October 2023 show that a total of 16 townhomes would sit on the northern side of the property. There are seven existing rentals on site.
The new buildings will be divided into eight townhouses with suites on the ground and upper floors, totaling 16 dwelling units.

The applicant wants to add the rental-only subzone onto the existing MF4 – Transit Oriented Areas zone to allow for this.

The well-known Cadder House will be protected as a heritage asset, a staff report says.

Not only would the heritage building be protected, city planning staff say the mature landscaping would also be preserved.

Additionally, there are two heritage related bylaws in place for this property.

“Heritage Revitalization Agreement (HRA) Bylaw No. 11124 permits short-term rentals and limited commercial uses within the existing seven units,” the staff report says.

“Heritage Designation Bylaw No. 9198 secures long-term protection of the Cadder House property by requiring Council approval of a Heritage Alteration Permit (HAP) for any changes to the building or site plan.”

The HRA was adopted in 2015 to allow for short-term rentals and limited commercial uses on the property. Short-term rental operations on the property ceased in July 2023.

City council will have to review and approve three separate applications.

That includes repealing the existing HRA and the rezoning to add the rental-only subzone.

If council support those two applications, staff say they will bring forward a second council report for the consideration of a heritage alteration permit to evaluate the form and character of 16 proposed purpose-built rental townhouses.

Staff are recommending support of the rental-only uses because it falls in line with the OCP’s future land use for the property, which is to encourage a “range of residential uses.”

This proposal caused a great deal of pushback from local neighbourhood associations, including the Kelowna South Central Association of Neighbourhoods.

Kelowna councillors will get their first look at this proposal on Sept. 9.