Kamloops council to consider rezoning for Tournament Inn property

Kamloops City Council is being asked to consider a rezoning application for the property that is currently home to a hotel off Highway 1 in Valleyview.

On Tuesday, city staff will be presenting the rezoning request which is looking to change 1893 Trans-Canada Highway East from the C3 (Highway Commercial) zone to the C1 (General Commercial) in order to permit a future mixed-use development.

According to the report headed to council, the applicants are wanting to build two six-storey buildings and a third building which is predominantly one-storey with a small two-storey section.

“The two larger buildings are proposed to be an 80-room hotel and a 60-unit multi-family residential building,” says the staff report.

However, council will only be considering the land zoning and will review a development permit (DP) at a later date.

According to the staff report, when the DP is brought forward a variance will be needed to increase the maximum height in the C1 zone from four to six storeys.

Additionally, a covenant will be required due to the property’s proximity to the South Thompson River flood plain.

Staff have also identified a need for sidewalks, a “corner cut: and a one metre right-of-way to protect existing water services and the developers will need to provide a dedication of these areas in their site plan.

Support for the rezoning is being recommended because the proposed rezoning is consistent with policies in the city’s Official Community Plan and a multi-family development would be “appropriate” due to the proximity to Valleyview SEcondary School and the Valleyview neighbourhood centre.

Should council give the rezoning bylaw first and second readings on Tuesday, the proposal would be sent to a public hearing.