Expansion plans for Penticton Lakeside Resort to come before council

PENTICTON – Penticton Lakeside Resort wants to expand and the resort’s plans go before city council tonight, Jan. 18.

The councillors will be asked to approve a staff recommendation to issue a development permit for a six-storey, 70-room annex to the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

The annex is proposed for the southwest corner of the resort’s parking lot. Plans call for a building constructed of cross laminated timber, wood paneling, glass, concrete and metal, which will add 70 more rooms to the resort’s present complement of 203 guest suites.

A relatively new construction technology that involves Penticton based Structurelam will be used in the annex.

The move comes as a result of the hotel ownership group’s plans to relinquish the casino after the expiration of the lease in May, 2017. The hotel owners intend to use the vacated casino space for an expanded conference area, but before that takes place the owners want to expand accommodations, a staff report to council explains.

The building will be located within a development permit area, which requires a development permit to ensure the Official Community Plan’s DPA guidelines are followed, prior to issuing of a building permit application.

The prospect of a downstream sewer line deficiency has been identified by public works staff who are presently reviewing the situation. If an upgrade is needed, a proposal will be made during 2017 budget deliberations for council’s review. The upgrades would be partly funded through developer contributions, with the remaining cost coming out of sewer capital reserves.

Because the property is located in the Downtown Revitalization Economic Investment Zone, it is eligible for tax exemptions on the property’s municipal portion, which could result in a $60,000 reduction in taxes, based on 2015 records. Taxes in the amount of approximately $14,000 would still be owing for school, regional district, and hospital.

City staff are recommending council approve a development permit.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.