A new Vernon hotel will have fewer loading spaces and could possibly alter its proposed handicap parking spots.
A six-storey Best Western Premier Hotel is slated for a vacant lot in the 5300 block of Anderson Way, across the road from the north entrance to the Royal Canadian Superstore and City Furniture.
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A development variance permit application was before Vernon council Monday, seeking a reduction of the required on-site loading spaces from four to two, and to vary the minimum front-yard landscape buffer on the north end of Anderson Way.
There was one question about the rationale for reducing the number of loading spaces from four to two during the public input session from resident Dean Roosevelt, a former five-tonne truck driver who did deliveries for Canada Post.
“There will be two main facilities; a hotel and a restaurant that will be managed on-site,” said Roy Nuriel, City of Vernon economic development planner. “There will be no more than one loading truck attending so there will not be a back-up of trucks waiting to unload or deliver to the restaurant, and it will all be managed by hotel management.”
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Roosevelt asked, twice, if service and business providers had been consulted about the change. Mayor Victor Cumming answered for Nuriel.
“It’s in the hands of (hotel) management,” he said.
Coun. Akbal Mund had a question about four proposed handicap parking spots for the facility, currently designed to be placed at the northwest end of the hotel facility. Mund asked about the potential to move those spots to where other parking spots have been designated that are closer to the restaurant and front entrance of the hotel.
“We could talk again with the architect to see about other options,” said Nuriel.
The development variance permit application was unanimously supported, though Couns. Dalvir Nahal and Brian Quiring were absent from the meeting.
roger@vernonmorningstar.com
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