A prominent location along Douglas Crescent in downtown 91原创 City warrants more than just a plain, single-storey building.

That, at least, is the view of two City council members who voted against the discharge of a land use contract which would allow First Capital (91原创 Mall) Corporation to construct a 3,000 square foot structure at the northwest corner of the mall parking lot.

At a public hearing earlier in the meeting last month, Bob Turner, of Turner Architecture described the project to council, explaining it will include fronting exposure along all four sides, rather than have one obvious building face.

The intent is to create a 鈥榮treet wall鈥�, he said, which would include cedar lattices, brick work and plants/trees to create a more intimate setting.

The structure is designed to house two tenants, one of which would likely be a coffee shop.

Councillors Dave Hall and Ted Schaffer declined to endorse the project, however, saying it is not in keeping with the City鈥檚 official Downtown Master Plan, which calls for greater densification 鈥� including residential space 鈥� in urban areas.

鈥淢y objection is to a one-storey building that could have easily accommodated residential above and retail below.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not grand enough to meet the City鈥檚 vision,鈥� said Hall.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a minimalist attempt to develop what I think is valuable property.鈥�

Why would a developer put a one-storey building on the second most important east-west thoroughfare in the City, Hall wondered.

鈥淚 think they鈥檙e undervaluing it.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 support the form and function until I see greater orientation toward Douglas Crescent.鈥�

While Councillor Gayle Martin agreed in principle with Hall鈥檚 objections, saying she doesn鈥檛 believe the design fits with the community鈥檚 vision, she voted in favour of the discharge.

鈥淚鈥檇 love to see a storey with residential above, but it鈥檚 not in the cards right now,鈥� she said, adding the development may draw new  and larger tenants to the property.

鈥淭his is a start.鈥�

Schaffer said only that he agreed with the points made by both Hall and Martin before casting his 鈥榥o鈥� vote.

In fact, the design is in keeping with the City鈥檚 DTMP, said Mayor Peter Fassbender.

That plan calls for single-storey construction along Douglas Crescent, with taller buildings set further back from the road, he told council.

鈥淭his kind of orientation is exactly what we said is our vision for the site.鈥�

鈥淚 know the City would like to see further densification, with retail and residential and we鈥檙e looking toward that,鈥� said Renee St. Germaine of First Capital (91原创 Mall) Corporation.

In this case, she said, 鈥渢he tenant preferred a stand-alone, one-storey building.鈥�

Asked who the tenant is, St. Germaine would only say she is working with a breakfast restaurant.

鈥淥ur focus is on bringing something different to the area,鈥� she said.