Skip to content

Heritage tree to survive development

Kelowna development to take into account a large copper beach tree and use it as design feature of medium density project on Ethel Street
8043kelownatree
Plans for a medium density housing complex will take a large tree into consideration as it moves through approval process.

A 100-foot tall tree with a long history will be preserved and turned into a feature on an apartment-style development, should it be approved by city council.

The tree, which sits on two parcels of land at the corner of Ethel Street and Saucier Ave., is a registered heritage tree (a mature Copper Beech tree) and the lot used to be home to a single family residence which has been relocated to another location on Ethel.

The tree, however, will stay and the developer has submitted plans to embrace the tree within the development.

"It's not often we deal with a tree (in the development process)," said Kelowna staff member Terry Barton. "There will be an arborists report that will have a series of recommendations to protect the tree and it's recommended that a do not disturb covenant be registered. That was a key objective, the protection of the tree."

The development is a 26-unit, 4-storey condo building. A public hearing will be held to discuss the planned condo.