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Council postponed its Southpark on Whyte decision Monday in order to hear more details on the overall PlanWhyte work done to date.

Wheaton Properties and One Properties are pitching two 18-storey towers on 81 Avenue as part of a four-building development on Whyte Avenue and 106 Street. They were hoping for a council rezoning decision Monday but will get a chance to present their case March 20 instead.

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That will allow planners to also present on PlanWhyte, an 18-month project to take a more consistent look at the Whyte Avenue area. Planners have been talking with community members about height and analyzing the market conditions for new condo and mixed-use projects. They’ll present details of the two height scenarios they’ve studied, allowing up to six versus 14 storeys along the popular and historic pedestrian shopping corridor.

“This is a very strong application that does push the envelope on height,” said Mayor Don Iveson, referring to the townhouses along 81 Avenue, the pedestrian mews in the alley and the creative shape of the wider tower. He said postponing the decision will allow council to take a policy approach rather than a one-off approach and let everyone “learn as we go.”

The developers said they just don’t want anything delayed until the second quarter, when PlanWhyte is estimated to come to council.

“Today, I see this as a real positive to allow for more engagement around PlanWhyte,” said Maureen Duguay, president of the Strathcona Community League. It will allow community members time to look at the big picture, she said, because “we’ve had to be engaged in these one-off developments and there’s only so much time in a day.”

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ONE Properties

ONE Properties

ONE Properties

ONE Properties