A Vancouver-based company hoping to erect three large towers on Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Leon Avenue will not be allowed to fill one of those buildings with short-term rental units, city council has decided.
A decisive 7-1 vote by council quashed the hopes of developer Anthony Beyrouti, owner of ticket reseller VenueKings.com, who was seeking a site-specific bylaw amendment to allow 198 short-term rental units at a proposed building at 1660 Water Street, at the intersection with Leon Avenue. Coun. Ryan Donn was the lone vote in favour and Coun. Maxine Dehart recused herself from the vote due to her employment in the local hotel industry.
When plans were revealed in January, the building in question was initially planned to be a hotel, but Beyrouti shifted his plans towards rentals, citing issues with financing and parking prompted by hotel-based regulations.
But still, Beyrouti香蕉视频直播檚 plans for a front desk concierge and hotel-style operations prompted the question: Why not just build a hotel?
香蕉视频直播淭his is a unique atmosphere and a unique location 香蕉视频直播� and a unique city, to be honest with you,香蕉视频直播� said Beyrouti.
香蕉视频直播淧eople would like an opportunity to not feel like they香蕉视频直播檙e in a hotel but to actually feel like they香蕉视频直播檙e in somebody香蕉视频直播檚 apartment or in their own home 香蕉视频直播� that kind of atmosphere. We believe this is a phenomenal opportunity to help enhance the area.香蕉视频直播�
City staff added the building would be taxed at a lower rate if approved with the short-term rentals than if it were a hotel.
香蕉视频直播淲hen it香蕉视频直播檚 a single owner running with a front desk, it really is a hotel 香蕉视频直播� and it should pay taxes like our hotels,香蕉视频直播� said Coun. Brad Sieben.
香蕉视频直播淏ut I think there香蕉视频直播檚 merit to what you香蕉视频直播檙e doing and to be perfectly honest, if you were to build all residential market housing here, while it may not be your original vision, it would be transformative to the area and from a city perspective it would be warmly welcomed.香蕉视频直播�
Without the allowance of short-term rentals, Beyrouti said he香蕉视频直播檇 have to take another look at his plans.
Currently, Beyrouti香蕉视频直播檚 plans call for 732 suites across the three towers, planned to be 25, 29 and 42 storeys tall 香蕉视频直播� which would require significant variances on height. The tallest tower could become Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 tallest structure.
Development and variance permits are still planned to come before council, with significant changes due to council香蕉视频直播檚 decision, at a later date.
READ MORE: Three-tower development proposed for Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 Leon Avenue
READ MORE: Kelowna unveils ONE Water Street Development
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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