New hotel near Kelowna airport proposes a rooftop hotub and helipad

It’s been nearly three years since Kelowna City Council approved a rezoning and OCP amendments for a new hotel by the airport.

Now, the developer has submitted their development permit for the form and character.

The proposal is for a six-storey, 160 room Courtyard by Marriott hotel.

Room count is down from the 200 proposed in 2022.

The hotel would sit on top of a two level underground parking structure.

One variance is being requested to increase the parking from the allowable 282 stalls.

The developer said there will be 335 stalls in the parkade plus 52 surface stalls.

There would be 609 square metres of meeting and banquet space plus a restaurant totalling 204 square metres.

“The proposal will also incorporate the infrastructure for a future helipad on the roof of the hotel along with rooftop amenities of a fitness room and a hot tub deck – both positioned to view the landing and take-off of airplanes from the adjacent Kelowna International Airport,” the application said.

Developers say the entire ground floor can be considered as a public realm with access to the meeting and conference rooms, the restaurant, lobby area, and circulation leading to outdoor spaces that will include several patio and courtyard spaces.

Planners for the City of Kelowna accepted this application on Wednesday but it still has to be circulated before it can be transformed into a report for council consideration.