An appeal over a proposed housing project next to the Granite Curling Club has been denied. The city previously approved certain variances on the proposed Granite Riverside Commons development – a 12-storey, 110-unit, mixed-use building at 30 Granite Way. Among the variances, the city is allowing the building to reach 126 feet instead of 100 feet, and allowing some smaller parking stall sizes. Local planning consultant John Wintrup, who lives across the river from the proposed development, launched an appeal against the variances. “The public record is deficient and the materials before you are thin and lacking,” said Wintrup during a special appeals hearing at city hall on Thursday. He argued the building is not compatible with the area, and the variance application does not meet the criteria required by the city. He noted height variance applications less than 26 feet have been rejected for other developments in the downtown area. Wintrup’s appeal was supported by the Granite Curling Club, which argued there isn’t enough information about area compatibility. Aaron Pollock, with Number TEN Architectural Group, said there are other similar sized buildings in the area, including the nearly identical West Broadway Commons. Area councillor Sherri Rollins spoke at the hearing in opposition to the appeal, saying the project’s height variance application meets all the requirements. The property and development committee voted unanimously to deny the appeal.
