Luxury hotel sent to hearing

Photo: City of Penticton

The public will get a chance to share their thoughts with Penticton city council on a luxury hotel proposed on the Naramata Bench.

The hotel's plans breezed through first reading during Tuesday night's council meeting, and will come up at council next during a public hearing on May 8.

The 20-unit boutique hotel planned for 468 Lower Bench Road will need a zoning bylaw amendment to be passed by council. 

Planning manager Blake Laven briefed council members on input heard from two public meetings on the hotel, held earlier this year by Tony Holler. 

Concerns heard on the hotel included loss of agricultural land, the impact on the neighbourhood, suitability of the lot, traffic and heritage site concerns — since the property is at the base of Munson Mountain, a designated heritage site.

Those in favour said the luxury hotel is a "long overdue" project, and said it will create more jobs and economic investments in the city. They also said the design was well thought out, and said the loss of some agricultural land is a "worthwhile sacrifice."

The piece of land in question is 1.3 acres in size, and 0.5 acres is part of the Agricultural Land Reserve. The hotel would be about 20,000 square feet in size — covering about 35% of the property. 

While 21,000 square feet of ALR land will be lost, the plans presented to council said about 15,000 square feet could be replanted.

The city's agricultural advisory committee has provided support for the hotel plan, and city staff said they think the hotel would align with policies in place to support the wine industry.

The hotel's proposed location is adjacent to Poplar Grove Winery, which Holler owns. 

Following the public hearing on May 8, council will also consider sending a positive recommendation of the hotel to the Agricultural Land Commission — which is needed in the application. 

Photo: City of Penticton