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West Kelowna  

Residents determined to stop planned resort, hotel and spa adjacent to Shannon Lake Golf Course

Opposition to resort spa

Some residents within the Shannon View Drive area of West Kelowna are determined to try and put a halt to a proposed "Whistler-style resort spa" in their neighbourhood.

The development is planned for a 13-acre parcel of land sitting between Shannon View Drive and Shannon Lake Road, adjacent to a portion of the golf course.

Developers of the Baden Resort Hotel and Spa envision a 188 room resort hotel with an additional 10 two-bedroom guest cabins, staff accommodations, restaurant, spa-treatment rooms, swimming pools and hot tubs.

Residents envision a traffic nightmare with inadequate transportation infrastructure in the immediate area, parking concerns and a negative impact on house prices in the area.

In order for the project to be allowed to move forward, the developer must first receive OCP and rezoning amendments.

The land use designation would have to be changed from low density multiple family to tourist commercial, with rezoning from low density multiple family to a comprehensive development zone that would allow for a proposed destination resort spa and hotel.

It's those changes some residents are fighting against.

"A project of this magnitude would have a profoundly negative effect on the character and atmosphere of the Shannon Lake neighbourhood. Shannon Lake is primarily residential...residents have chosen to live here to enjoy the quiet, natural beauty, and avoid more commercial use," says area resident Tom Groat.

During a zoom public information session earlier this month. Groat says questions were raised about increased traffic, inadequate transportation infrastructure, access to the property, parking and construction.

He says answers to those concerns were not satisfactory.

The project was given unanimous support by the city's advisory planning commission.

It has yet to go before city council.

Neighbours have started a petition to try and prevent the rezoning.



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