A zoning bylaw amendment will allow for the placement of a hotel at the corner of Julia Street and Rosedale Avenue in Summerland.
The bylaw, which was adopted on July 2, affects properties at 9514 and 9518 Julia St. and 14406 and 14408 Rosedale Ave. for a four-storey, 51-room hotel and a six-storey, 84-unit residential apartment building.
In a report to council, Brad Dollevoet, director of development services for Summerland, said the hotel is in the Gateway Commercial land use designation to attract a hotel. The site is close to Highway 97 and Summerland’s downtown core.
The 84-unit residential building will add rental units to the community, according to Summerland’s 2021 Housing Needs Assessment, the community has needed an additional 772 housing units since the 2016 census in order to meet demand in the community.
Earlier, when the hotel concept was presented in December 2023, Dollevoet said there was also a need for a hotel near Summerland’s downtown.
“The lack of a larger hotel in the downtown core is a barrier to hosting events, sports tournaments, as well as supporting our existing tourism operators and wineries,” he said in a report to council at the time. “A hotel located in proximity to the downtown can also support downtown businesses by bringing new visitors to the community.”
The proposal received council support at that time. It has also come to a public hearing in January.
The bylaw adoption was approved unanimously.