Kelowna

Photo: Contributed - http://www.manteo.com

Kelowna City Council has given unanimous approval for expansion of the Manteo Resort.

Council gave its blessing at Tuesday night's public hearing.

There was only a smattering of opposition to the project. Of the three people who chose to speak to council, two were in favour of the expansion.

City Clerk Stephen Fleming read eight to 10 letters of opposition, many from residents across Lakeshore Road at the Playa Del Sol Resort who were concerned about increased traffic and obstructed lake views.

The expansion, in the works for several years, includes a 12 storey, 69 unit hotel, a 10 storey, 77 unit apartment/hotel and 18 lakefront townhome residences.

"We've worked and re-worked this proposal to ensure we're not only making sound business decisions but, most importantly, responsible ones," says Adrian Block, president and founder of The Rykon Group, developer of Manteo Resort.

"We have an amazing piece of real estate and take our stewardship of the land seriously and applaud City Council for their collaboration to ensure a win-win for everyone."

The developer requested, and was granted, an OCP (Official Community Plan) amendment for height in order to make the project work.

The OCP had a height restriction of six storeys for that portion of Lakeshore Road.

In exchange for the height variance, developers will make available a 12-metre lakefront strip to ensure public access from Rotary Beach to the mouth of Mission Creek.

The first phase of the three phase project will include construction of the 18 townhome residences on the Lakeshore Inn property.

While construction details have not yet been released, developers indicate they intend to bring the townhomes to market in late spring.

The Manteo expansion marks the beginning of what could be a construction boom along that area of Lakeshore Road.

On Monday, council gave initial approval to an ambitious development across the street from Manteo in what is now the Hiawatha Mobile Home Park.

That development is heading to public hearing March 26.