A spa resort proposed for a vacant hilltop in West Kelowna has been met with some resistance from residents.

The proposal for Baden Spa was first heard in council in June this year. It then went through to the citysa国际传媒檚 agricultural advisory committee for a review at the end of August.

The proposal will now be coming back to council for a second reading. It hadnsa国际传媒檛 seen much resistance within the citysa国际传媒檚 planning department but some residents are voicing their concerns about the development.

Resident Tom Groat launched a petition in July, urging the city to think about the repercussions if the proposal went ahead.

sa国际传媒淲e want what you want: a thriving, healthy city that is well-planned ensuring livability for today and for the long term,sa国际传媒� Groat wrote in the petition.

sa国际传媒淎 hotel project in any established residential neighbourhood is not the best interest of its residents nor the city.sa国际传媒�

The proposed spa is for the vacant land adjacent to Shannon Lake Road and Shannon View Drive, where a residential complex was supposed to be developed The Baden Spa developers are now applying to amend the zoning from residential development to a commercial development.

Baden Spa is proposed to have a 188-unit hotel as well as ten two-bedroom cabins. There will be a bistro/restaurant, a silent spa, a regular spa, treatment rooms, and staff housing. In all, it will be a huge undertaking.

In the petition, Groat said that amending the zoning bylaw for the area is a sa国际传媒渄eviation from the City of West Kelownasa国际传媒檚 (Official Community Plan)sa国际传媒� and that sa国际传媒渢he characteristic and aesthetic integrity of all residential neighbourhoods needs to be respectedsa国际传媒�.

sa国际传媒淩educing residential zoning while there is a shortage of affordable housing is not in our citysa国际传媒檚 best interest,sa国际传媒� he wrote.

All of that said, however, Groat said a commercial development is beneficial to the city by way of economic growth, tourism, and job creation, but it seems that the communitysa国际传媒檚 concerns outweigh the value of having the spasa国际传媒檚 application go through.

Other concerns listed in the petition include the future demand on infrastructure once the spa resort is in operation, how it wonsa国际传媒檛 visually match with the rest of the neighbourhood and inadequate parking.

To read or sign the petition, visit .

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twila.amato@blackpress.ca
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