APC Meeting gets hot over TNI development
Gillian Evans speaks during an Advisory Planning Committee meeting Thursday afternoon. (Dave Preston photo)
In the Peachland age of billion dollar developments, one comparatively small development is attracting a lot of negative attention and strong words.
Tempers flared Thursday afternoon as the council appointed Advisory Planning Committee (APC) sat down in council chambers to discuss the proposed TNI development on the corner of Second Street and Beach Avenue.
Understand that APC meetings are usually dry affairs. Chair Cecile Guilbault said, “We have never had people at our meetings.”
The APC discusses with town staff, developers and architects such subjects as the colour of brick on a building, the size of awnings and whether deciduous or coniferous plantings are preferable in planters.
It wasn’t so dry Thursday.
Although Guilbault repeatedly asked the 30 people in attendance to stick to the subject matter of form and character of the proposed development, many were bound and determined to make their views heard on anything and everything.
Local business owner Steve Allison has proposed tearing down the Edgewater Hotel and the Aegean Grill building to put up a new, three-storey building that would house commercial on the bottom floor, TNI The Network Inc. on the second floor and condos on top.
Peachland council gave third reading to a rezoning amendment Tuesday night. The next step was for the APC to discuss what the building looks like.
After questions from committee members, a number of audience members stood up to say their bits. Repeatedly, the majority of them were asked to stop by Guilbault for straying off the topic of form and character.
Central to the complaints received were that the building is one big structure, as opposed to the smaller, quainter, small town buildings some people seem to want.
Parking was raised and it was immediately quashed by the meeting chair. TNI is asking for a five-year agreement with a five-year renewal, that would allow the company to use 58 parking spots in the parking lot currently behind the Edgewater Inn. TNI would pay for upgrades to the lot and most of the repairs and maintenance.
Some councillors expressed concern Tuesday about the parking covenant, as it is known. Although the development has received third reading, council will deal with the parking issue at a special council meeting next Wednesday.
Things have gotten testy and ugly. On Tuesday night, as council wrestled with the parking covenant in its meeting, a woman sitting in the back of the room heckled council and senior staff, at one point calling them liars. She then asked for an apology at Thursday’s meeting from a development company representative for an alleged verbal altercation in the parking lot after Tuesday’s council meeting.
On Thursday, a man called developers arrogant. Coun. Cindy Fortin chastised one developer representative for allegedly accusing people of having nothing better to do than show up at the committee meeting.
At a public hearing two weeks ago, a woman apparently called Allison a liar when he said he’s lived in Peachland for 17 years.
For the past decade or so, development has been common place in Peachland. There were some notable public hearings, such as the ones held for Lakeshore Gardens and the Gateway, but things seemed to have calmed down lately. Even the meetings held for Ponderosa and New Monaco — massive developments by any definition, were quite quiet compared to what’s going on over the TNI proposal.
Why all this now? A small group of people is being very vocal about the development and Allison is surely feeling beat up at this point. (Note that few, if any people, have been complaining about a new development downtown. They’re complaining about the look of it.)
It seems apparent that this is not about the development but the location of the development. This is the first real development for the downtown core and the developer is not proposing small and quaint. No doubt some people look at TNI’s development as the final nail in the coffin for a charming, small town downtown.
One person Thursday said Peachland should be like Carmel, California. Another inquired about Niagra on the Lake. Still others have been vocal that whatever is built should be faithful to the historic nature of Peachland.
It was about a dozen years ago that the then council made the decision that tall buildings need to be allowed in downtown Peachland. The council of the day realized that to have a vibrant, sustainable, economically feasible downtown, there would have to be big buildings holding lots of people. There was shock and outrage shown, but then it subsided.
Some people complained about Gateway. It’s now a cornerstone. Some people complained about the waterfront walkway, but it has become an exceedingly popular place to go for a walk. Now some people are complaining about the TNI building.
One woman mentioned Thursday that it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the buildings downtown. One would hope not. Take away the trees, the bollards, the hanging plants and the cobblestone on sidewalks, and downtown Peachland isn’t much to look at. Save the Gasthaus, there aren’t any architectural marvels around. Save the museum, the Primary School and the Little Schoolhouse, there is little history in downtown Peachland and some of the history that exists in some buildings some people would just as soon forget.
It’s been about 15 years since the sewers went in downtown, paving the way for the development. In 15 years, nothing has happened. We are so close now, but hot heads abound.
Cooler heads need to prevail. Let’s move on.
- Excited
- Informed
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
I am amazed at the people who are against this development. However everyone has an opinion. I think the new building looks good , as does the Bliss building. Architecture does not stand still, there are always new styles, just look at different houses.
Do I understand correctly that there are some people who are okay with the current Vancouver Eastside injection centre look of the Edgewater and against a clean looking modern building fronted by patio’s and shops?
Speaking of which, I haven’t seen a single comment about the fact that getting the new TNI building (What will it be called by the way?) means we will be losing the only bar with live entertainment and (cough) the “hotel”. What will Peachland be like without our homely little injection center? The streets really will roll up after 9:00PM.
Why doesn’t Mr. Allison build an art-deco hotel on top of a multi-level parking garage where the surface lot is behind the new TNI Building. The rooms would look over the TNI Building (which should have a roof-top bar by the way, hint hint). A little convention space, a nice martini lounge maybe?
By the way, what’s historic about Peachland is the people. The sign should read “Welcome to Historic Peachland, some things never change”
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The proposed building does not follow in any way the recommendations of the Charrette Report, that the taxpayers of this town paid the UBC School of Architecture to produce, as a guide to future development.
The Public Parking Lot will be lost, as will over $1,000,000 in parking revenue if it is given to TNI for the next 10 years.They have the property to build their own parking lot.
Leave the ONLY downtown off street parking alone.
Come to the special parking meeting on July 4 in council at 9AM to see for yourself how public land is used.
So there will be limited parking downtown?
Isn’t that exactly the answer that the $37,000 reduce the carbon footprint study is looking for?
The Charrette report (has the Curling rink as a fixture and the Post office and Library moving downtown) , the Economic sustainable studies and the environmental studies are all a waste of taxpayer dollar so that the politicians and District managers have something to point to and hide behind when they want to do things that do not make sense and stand on their own merit. “The Charrette made me do it!”, ” We had to halt development because of the Economic Impact study said investors would lose money”
If we cut down on some studies and used common sense there would be a lot more money to spend to improve Peachland or even better lower taxes.
And don’t tell me is is provincial grant money, or carbon tax grant money or Federal money…… it is all money out of my pocket.
Here is the definition for recommend: to advise, as an alternative; suggest (a choice, course of action, etc.) as appropriate, beneficial, or the like: There is nothing in recommend that says you must…..The charrette was just an exercise where most of the recommendations were provided by local citizens…biased and unprofessional.
There should be a muzzle & leash bylaw where these people could be led out of the meeting. If I were the chair I would have adjourned the mtg.
This is a private owner spending his own money on a risky venture – for our mutual benefit. It is not the Museum for Human Rights or a Western movie soundstage, it’s a business. Yes, it could be made to look like anything in our imaginations, just look at Vegas, it only takes stupid money. My first impression of the architect’s concept was favourable, but then again I have a weakness for pergolae (and cupolae for that matter). My second thought was I wonder if the condos are already sold? It looked to me like a good thing overall but I did lament a bit for the end of “an era” (or end of an error) that will be the long lost Bilgewater.
With only money the building could be made different, were there a sufficient rationale and bottomless ATM to work with. It could be made to look like it was circa 1900 but it would be fake. The architect(s) could take the challenge to be re-imaginative – The Charette Challenge, as it were – to imagine what three or four completely different architects would come up with with, each given 25% of the street front to work with. Four disconnected ego-structures or some kitchy theme town facade a la’ Tombstone. Heck, they could collaborate and make it look like four immense chairs around a glass table or stockings hanging in front of the fireplace (have you been to Vegas lately?).
Effusive details and unnecessary bends in an otherwise functional design adds to design and construction costs and maintenance, especially if the design is essentially complete. There is the opportunity at this time however, to step back and look forward a hundred years. Will it be a building that will be looked at then as worth preserving? Will it define Peachland? Will it become the most prominent structure greeting you as you sail up for the first time visit, on your way to a round of golf on Pincushion. Will it take your breath away like the scenery? No. The worst it could be is forgettable. It won’t be on any post cards in it’s current form. But the question is, what makes sense in it’s place?
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I think that you are commenting on parking with out information otherwise you would realise that there is no paid parking in Peachland so I’m confused as to where this $1,000,000 in revenue is coming from and I don’t see the implementation of paid parking in the near future.
The developer will be responsible to pay upwards of $200,000.00 + to develop a lot for parking that it does not own so they are increasing the value of an empty lot. Have you looked at the lot? I walked by it less then an hour ago and there were under 10 cars parked there which is typical for a weekday. So the developer is gong to provide a new lined, lighted and landscaped lot at their expense, to not only provide parking for their staff but for all of the new commerical tenants on the main floor and for visitors and residents of peachland
Everyone seems to be stuck on it being a TNI lot and I’ve worked in Peachland on and off for over 10 years and have never seen that lot full between 8:00 – 5:00 during the week. I think you have a misconception and are fixated on what you think Peachland will loose. I don’t see it loosing anything but I do see a big gain at the developers and not the tax payers expense. All of the surrounding business will benefit from a new lighted lot by providing a safe place for their customers to park ceretainly TNI does not operate 24/7 leaving the lot empty so weekend and evening visitors will have parking. It’s my understanding that there will be approximately 25 spots dedicated to the public. Surely those 10 cars that I saw utilizing the lot will be adequately provided for. After hours and on the weekend Peachland will gain more parking then it currently has.
This development is a win for Peachland all the way around.
It sounds like some are afraid of Peachland’s downtown becoming giant, boxy and faceless with this building being the first step in that process. I urge you: have another look at those drawings because I don’t see that in that building. Yes, it’s big, but it needs to provide workspace for 50+ full-time staff and another 20-25 part-time staff plus equipment. That is a lot of people coming here, living here, earning and spending money here. They need a lot of space for that many people and frankly I thought a building of the size required would look much worse. This building has character. It’s interesting with arches, features, and pergolas. Its anything but boxy and shapeless. The colours and rock incorporated into the design give it a modern, yet rustic chalet feel at the same time. I think the designers and architect have done a fantastic job and once built I’m sure everyone will be proud to have this attractive and unique building in the downtown.
Most of the buildings in the downtown are bland, boxy and worse are deteriorating. I say Mr. Allison should be applauded for his personal time and money he is investing in this project with the aim of the greater good of Peachland. Do you not think that if he didn’t care, if he was only interested in function and profit, that this building would be way boxier and shapeless then some fear it is?
If the development is going to look like the drawing submitted a few months ago, I don t see what the fuss is all about. It s only a 3 story building, looks good, and the proposed use of the building for shops, offices, and residential suites makes sense. Ive seen a lot of the old buildings in Europe, the UK, and Asia, that one of the submissions referred to, and although some are very aesthetically pleasing, they are, for the most part, out of sync with the rest. Good for tourists to look at, but outdated, and generally do nothing to enhance the look of the neighborhoods. One thing seems sure….It doesn t matter what the end result of this is, not everyone is going to be happy, the good thing is that we are all entitled to our opinions.
Well for sure the Gateway is on a corner, but a cornerstone,- not! It’s just another concrete monolith, like the TNI proposal, with as much aesthetic appeal as Wallmart. If developers would just give more thought to form , and a little less to function and profit, we could have a legacy for our children, and not just another blight. Preston mentions there are few architectural marvels in Peachland except the Gasthaus. Well that may be, but the TNI proposal is nothing like the beautiful Gasthaus, and it certainly is no marvel.
X2. My 1st tought the 1st time I arrived in Peachland was: WOW! It’s beautiful in here. The lake, the trees, the walkway, the flowers, the VERY nice people. Like you can have a conversation with them even if they don’t know you. I also loved the quiet downtown style. I prefer that a hundred times more than fake looking but “modern” Whistler.
As for Bliss, it’s a nice building yes, I tried to take in on pictures a couple times but there’s no caracter to it.. Makes it kind of boring.
Bruce,
If a developer, or anyone for that matter, was to ” give more thought to form , and a little less to function and profit”, they would be bankrupt in no time flat. You have your opinion, I have mine but, a pretty building that doesn’t function properly and is not profitable does not make any sense at all, why build it in the first place.
All I’m saying is if function rules, you end up with the big box store form, cheap to build, but ugly. In my opinion, the gateway and the TNI proposal have followed this model too closely.
You can have both function, and an appealing design, with the warmth, character and charm that Peachland has now. Why ruin that with more beige concrete, there’s enough of that in the strip-malls of Westbank.
Peachland deserves better!
Think about the parking lot: TNI is building a brand new “headquarter” for a temporary 5-10 years? Where are they gonna park after that? What’s about the rich condo owners? Free offsite parking paid by Municipality?
In real towns, in real buildings, they build underground parking lots under the building, when there’s none available on site.
Anyways.. As peachy said this article is biased for sure.
Underground parking would not be feasible in the downtown. The lake water level would end up flooding it yearly. (see Kelowna Community Theatre’s orchestra pit).
Then a two storey parking lot could be cool. Right beside the highway on one side… a back street on the other side and hidden by the new TNI’s building on Beach.
Install a timestamp machine so Peachland gets it’s money back frmo people using the parking lot.
No lease contrat, but a flow of money going to the municipality.
As for the flooding I don’t know how it works… but what’s about the underground tunnel under the st- lawrence river in Montreal or the underground under the Manche between France & Britain? Here we’re talking beside a lake, not under it.
we can go on the moon, we surely can prevent a parking lot flooding.
Its a simple matter of money, sure they could spend millions on an underground lot in order to ensure its engineered to withstand the rising water table, but it would cost too much to be worth their expense.
The money spent on the Channel Tunnel is absurdly more per square foot than a parking lot.
An above ground lot would be a great idea on one of the back streets though, I agree with you there.
I beg to differ, Peachland does not need TNI, and managed very well for many decades without them. But TNI does own 60% of downtown Peachland and many other properties besides! This ownership is interpreted by the owner as POWER. I cannot understand why the developer cannot sit down and listen, instead or wandering off into the Mona Lisa, and the Pyramids of Egypt. This is insulting to those who care deeply about the community. The changes asked for are not major, they are merely wanting the building to conform with the OCP, and the Sustainable Downtown Plan, to reflect the historic nature, uniqueness and village atmosphere of the community.
I would like to remind the reporter that it takes two sides to make a meeting “hot”! One member of the committee was also extremely “testy and ugly.”
I wouldn’t consider a single building in that downtown area “historic” with the exception of the octagon church. Other than that, the rest could just be bulldozed if it meant putting up more attractive buildings.
If these people want to see “historic” attractive buildings, they need to get out more. How about sending them on a bus tour of Europe maybe. Or Quebec City.
Get a life people. There are about six people against the look of this development and it’s about time they accepted that the majority of people are in favor of this.
Mike you obviously do not care about history! Western Canada does not have the same history as Europe or Quebec, that does not mean everything can be bulldozed! Thank goodness the people of Europe and in Quebec did not think like you, otherwise there would be nothing their either!
I would like to keep some ‘Historic’ buildings of Peachland that are either interesting or have some historical meaning…but really the block that TNI is building on has:
1.The Edgewater lounge/hotel (Originally The Totem Inn) Historical?..for all the wrong reasons.
2. Aegean Grill (Chinese Laundry) Interesting? yeah okay
3. Chamber of Commerce/Tourist Info (A Trailer!) Not much history there.
4. Municipal Offices…square box building. History?
So really what are we losing? The only building that has any character is the one the Chinese Laundry was in. Maybe that building could be moved?
I think it is important we preserve the actual Historical buildings…ie: the Museum…Both School Houses. It is a shame the Old Little School House had to be kept hidden way back of Beach Ave. It is ironic that with both School Houses many people wanted to see them torn down and trashed.
I guess many want historical, but it needs to be new historical..or fake historical
Peachy, I have to agree 100% with “Trigger” on this. He/she went through the list of buildings point by point and I think that about covers it. Nothing that is being lost is historical .
Frankly, some people are confusing “old” with “worth saving”. Just because something is old doesn’t mean it is historical. Europeans know the difference between “historical” and just plan “old”, decrepit, and run down and are careful in what they pull down and in what they preserve. About time some people here figured out the difference.
The downtown needs to be rebuilt. TNI deserves our support for trying to make a start on this.
By the way, you can’t have underground parking next to a lake. It doesn’t work. Same reason that downtown Calgary doesn’t have underground parking in most of its buildings; too close to the water table.
Also, as Holly said, Peachland desperately needs TNI and the jobs they create. They talked a couple of years ago about shifting to Westbank First Nations Land because they would have been welcomed with open arms and had a new building up and occupied in no time. With some of the crowd they have to deal with here, I’m betting they wish they had done so.
….well said both of you….
Peachland needs TNI. And TNI needs a new building. The developers did a fantastic job incorporating what Peachland needs with what TNI needs. The building is very nice and it is flexible to change. As was said by one resident in the said meeting, “it’s we, the people of Peachland, who really make Peachland”. Let’s make it wonderful with what we are given.