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The development at the center of a recent death threat to mayor Colin Basran is far from being approved says the City of Kelowna.
On Wednesday, a Facebook user addressing Basran wrote “Put a bullet in this f***tard…” in the comment section of an article about the proposed development on Groves Avenue.
Kelowna RCMP have since arrested a 52-year-old man in connection to the comment and he now faces potential charges.
On Monday, Basran exercised his rarely used “executive privilege” to bring the 6-storey, 22-unit development back in front of city council after it had already been voted down following a public hearing on April 23.
However, urban planning manager Terry Barton has clarified that only the land use rezoning component of the application has been approved.
“This is only the first half of the application,” said Barton.
“A development permit considering form and character as well as the variances we're tracking will also have to go to a public hearing and be approved.”
According to Barton, the public hearing will likely happen within the next few months and any residents impacted by the development will have the opportunity to address city councillors before the vote.
“The public hearing will be regarding the scale and height of the building and whether it’s appropriate for the area,” explained Barton.
“That’s where most of the concerns seem to be focused.”
Councillors Luke Stack, Maxine DeHart, Mohini Singh and Charlie Hodge opposed the reconsidered development.
Mayor Basran along with councillors Ryan Donn, Gail Given, Brad Sieben and Loyal Wooldridge have supported the project.
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