Motel shifts, gets approved
Colin Dacre - Jun 19, 2019 - Biz Releases

Image: Contributed

Penticton city council has voted to push ahead with the approval of a boutique hotel proposed for the base of Munson Mountain.

Council granted final approval Tuesday evening to a zoning amendment required for the Poplar Grove Inn, which the owners of the adjacent winery is seeking to build at 468 Lower Bench Rd.

The B.C. Agricultural Land Commission rejected a previous version of the proposal, as one-third of the subject lot is in the ALR.

The new plan brought before council Tuesday saw the 20-room motel’s overall footprint reduced and shifted onto the two-thirds of the lot outside the ALR.

“The Okanagan Valley should start recognizing what the rest of the world is doing,” said Mayor John Vassilaki, pointing to world-renowned winemaking regions such as Napa and Bordeaux that place accommodation within the vineyards.

“That’s where the people want to go when they visit those areas. That’s what we are pushing at the present time in the valley, is our capability of presenting some of the worlds best wine,” he said.

“I would be criminal for us to not go ahead with this,” the mayor said.

The proposal passed 5-2 with Couns. Bloomfield and Kimberley opposed. Bloomfield wanted to reconsult the city’s agricultural committee, while Kimberley said he would prefer if a new public hearing was held.

The hotel created a considerable amount of controversy when council previously considered it in May 2018.

Proponents Barb and Tony Holler said after the vote it would take at least a year for construction to begin so permits can be secured.


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