City Council got its first look on Monday at a proposed master plan of Kelowna’s most sustainable community, Central Green.
Mission Group Homes, in partnership with Al Stober Construction, has updated the master plan for the site in preparation for the first release of homes sales to the public. The original plan was adopted in 2011 after extensive community consultation. Council gave first reading and the design will go to public hearing in November.
“The concept of a pedestrian walkway running from Harvey Avenue to Rowcliffe Park through a master planned group of multi-family homes and small scale commercial shops remains central to the new design,” says Jonathan Friesen, CEO of Mission Group Enterprises. “The site plan for Central Green maximizes open space with good connections for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles— both within the neighborhood and to surrounding areas— essential for residents to capitalize on its location as the new hub of Kelowna.”
Central Green’s master plan guides the development of Kelowna’s first neighbourhood to be certified in Leadership Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). LEED-ND takes the green certification concept beyond individual buildings and applies it to the neighborhood context. A certification to LEED ND will signify that the Central Green community is both smart and green: looking at the development’s location, its internal pattern of roads, walkways and design, and its use of green technology and building techniques.
The pedestrian-oriented community is served by rapid bus transit and connected to the City’s existing cycling network.
Aiming to achieve the City’s vision to create a vibrancy community, the Central Green master plan calls for a lively commercial section in its central plaza with a mulit-use low-speed roadway weaving through the area to allow access to the shops and services. Along the street a limited amount of surface parking will allow for visitors parking and delivery access. All additional parking in the community is underground.
All Central Green buildings will be green buildings, certified LEED. Proposed are two towers set back from Harvey Avenue, surrounded by 4-to-6 storey buildings with a mix of rental housing, offices and commercial spaces. Building height will have a maximum of 20 floors and specific building forms will be considered upon development permit applications for individual buildings. Leading to the park’s edge three additional buildings rise only four storeys, each dedicated for condominium homes. The buildings will complement the visual and spatial continuum of outdoor spaces in an inviting series of safe, interconnected spaces.
As part of the master planned community, over 40 per cent of Central Green’s land area is reserved for Rowcliffe Park. To be developed by the City of Kelowna, the park will feature a perimeter walking/biking circuit, a children’s playground, a fenced off-leash dog park, community gardens, a stage for performing arts and a field area for informal games of soccer, frisbee, volleyball and football or simply a great picnic. The City anticipates construction to begin in 2017.
Committed to build Kelowna’s most sustainable community, Mission Group invites those interested in living in the new community to register at newhubofkelowna.com.
About Mission Group
Named the 2014 Multi-Family Builder of the Year, Mission Group has been nationally recognized for construction excellence, Built Green standards, and exceptional customer service. Founded in 2004, Mission Group has completed numerous multi-family communities in the Okanagan and Lower Mainland. In 2015, the Kelowna-based builder celebrated its 1,000th homeowner and is currently marketing three new home communities.
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