Kelowna council is delaying a final decision on the master plan of a major redevelopment.
Plans for the site of the Capri Centre Mall were deferred, as council asked for more answers related to the new project's ammenities.
Along with residential towers and commercial retail, the plans include an NHL-sized outdoor ice rink, with which council wanted a firm commitment that the public be allowed to use it.
Councillor Brad Sieben says specific logistics didn't need to stand in the way of approving the site.
"I think at the end of the day, we have the potential for 2200 residential units in the centre part of town, not on the lakeshore, which may make them more affordable. I don't want to miss that opportunity, and I'll be honest, I don't want the applicant to miss the market, because then we might not get anything," he said.
"I understand council's sentiments, but I think the manner by which we deal with these (comprehensive development) zones, we should keep them very conceptual in nature."
In its deferral decision, council asked staff to report back with further information on the rink's ownership, confirmation on roads through the site being public or private, timelines on the phases of construction, and planned bike paths and park space.
Councillor Luke Stack says he's not ready to make a fully informed decision.
"I just can't seem to hear it, what the operation of this facility will be, and whether the general public will have access to it or not. I just feel uncomfortable at this point," he said.
Stack's comments were echoed by council colleagues, who didn't directly link, but still alluded to the recent experience at Central Green.
After approving that project's master plan and comprehensive development zone, council was promised high rise residences that would border public green space.
As the project progressed, plans for the highrises fell by the wayside, as developer Al Stober Construction designed shorter and wider buildings, which it said were more feasible on the site.
Mayor Colin Basran also voted against a deferral with Sieben and Gail Given, saying he thinks agreements could have been made without halting the process.
"I am a bit worried that we're being a bit prescriptive in the sense that we don't own this property. At the end of the day, this is privately held, and I appreciate that we want to hold them to a high standard - I appreciate that. But I think there are other ways we could have, perhaps, found clarity," he said.
"Firstly, I endorsed this master plan myself. I love it, I think it's awesome. But I appreciate too that for some, a couple weeks is not a big deal when compared to the time it'll take for the full build-out."
Though approval was postponed on the overall master plan, council still green lit a development permit for the first building on the site - a 22-storey condo complex.
That new building will replace the parking lot at Sutherland and Capri, and won't affect existing businesses as its constructed.
The projected build-out for the full site, rink included, is roughly 20 years.