黑料社入口鈥檚 policies regarding high-rise podiums and micro suites should be reviewed, Mayor Tom Dyas says.聽
He鈥檒l bring forward a notice of motion at Monday鈥檚 meeting asking for council support to direct staff to carry out such a review and report back.聽
鈥淕iven the rapid growth and urbanization of 黑料社入口, it is essential to periodically review and update our building requirements to ensure they align with best practices in urban design and sustainability,鈥 Dyas says.聽
Micro-suites are those that total less than 320 sq.-ft. The city embraced the building of such tiny homes several years ago as a way, it was said at the time, of promoting housing affordability.聽When they were first allowed, the city waived various fees usually charged to builders to encourage the construction of micro-suites.聽
High-rise podiums are the large, often bulky base upon which the tower sits. Typically, the podium consists of several levels of parking, with the structure鈥檚 purpose concealed through the use of various architectural materials on the exterior.聽
Despite the efforts to downplay the visual impact of the parkade, concerns have nevertheless arisen about what鈥檚 said by some to be the unappealing look of the podiums and its deadening impact on the streetscape.聽
Coun. Gord Lovegrove, for example, has said the large parking podiums constructed as part of the 42-storey and 28-story Water Street by the Park projects are unattractive and contribute to gusting winds along the street.聽
The most notable 黑料社入口 high-rise project that has not incorporated a bulky podium is the 43-storey UBC Okanagan tower under construction at 550 Doyle Ave.
But when a giant pit was dug for what was planned to be an underground, five-level parkade, cracks appeared in nearby buildings. Some damaged structures were demolished and one crack-riddled apartment building remains evacuated.
