A destination resort spa and hotel proposed for West Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 Shannon Lake neighbourhood has been stopped in its tracks.

With one councillor away from the March 22 regular meeting, a vote to give first and second reading to rezoning bylaws was split three for and three against. The Province of B.C. procedure bylaw guide states that if there is a tie vote at a municipal or regional district board meeting, the motion is defeated.

In voting against the motion Councillor Doug Findlater said rezoning and Official Community Plans focus on land use.

害羞草研究所淭his is currently zoned for housing,害羞草研究所� said Findlater. 害羞草研究所淭o change it away from that to basically a commercial enterprise, we害羞草研究所檙e going to lose that opportunity for housing in our community.害羞草研究所�

Loewen Development Group is proposing the project for vacant land at Shannon View Drive and Shannon Lake Road. Named Baden Spa, the development includes an estimated 172-room hotel, spa, restaurant, an apartment for employees, and ten tourist cabins.

With house prices at record levels and a limited supply, Findlater said council needs to do everything it can to help keep and build housing stock.

害羞草研究所淭his may not solve the housing crisis in itself,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淏ut every little bit helps in the sense that if you put more housing on the market it害羞草研究所檚 going to be available to somebody and it害羞草研究所檚 going to help keep the price down.害羞草研究所�

The property was rezoned in 2013 to make way for a proposed 49-unit townhouse development that was never built. It has sat empty since.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 very familiar with it,害羞草研究所� said Findlater. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not sure why the development didn害羞草研究所檛 proceed, but I would like to see it remain as housing. The province is looking at changing processes so municipalities can bring more housing on-stream faster. I simply don害羞草研究所檛 see a luxury hotel, it that害羞草研究所檚 what it is, as contributing to that.害羞草研究所�

The developer does have another opportunity to have the project approved, however. Mayor Gordon Milsom has the prerogative to bring the proposal back to council for reconsideration.

害羞草研究所淥ur mayor may want to do that, but given the opposition to it, it害羞草研究所檚 putting it all on one person,害羞草研究所� added Findlater.

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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