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Keremeos’ Sunset Motel seeks residential rezoning

The owner plans to build a townhouse on the property
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The proposed site of a townhouse on the Sunset Motel property, which would require rezoning approval from the Village of Keremeos to proceed. (Google Earth via Village of Keremeos)

The owner of Keremeos’ Sunset Motel wants to formally rezone the property for long-term residential use.

For a number of years, it has already been operated as long-term rentals instead of as a motel, which is part of why the village’s staff recommendation is to go forward with allowing the rezoning.

The rezoning had been scheduled to come up during council’s Nov. 15 meeting, but that meeting was unsurprisingly cancelled due to the flooding in the Similkameen, and pushed to the Dec. 6 meeting.

If the rezoning is approved by council, the owner plans to build a townhouse development with four two-bedroom units on the northeast corner of the property at the intersection of Sparks Drive and Highway 3.

READ ALSO: B.C. reviewing responsibility for orphaned dikes such as those near Keremeos, Princeton

The rezoning to RM1 residential would allow up to 27 residential units on the property, and there are currently up to 15 former motel units being occupied on a permanent basis, according to the report from village staff.

Staff also noted that if the rezoning is approved, a number of the currently occupied units will no longer meet the required minimum density for the new residential zoning requirements as well as building code standards for permanent residences compared to motel rooms.

Separate from the approval of the council, the rezoning would also require approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure due to closeness to the highway, and from the school district due to closeness to the Similkameen Elementary Secondary School.

If the council goes forward with the first reading for the rezoning, a public hearing will be scheduled for later in December or in January.

To report a typo, email: editor@pentictonwesternnews.com.

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Brennan Phillips

About the Author: Brennan Phillips

Brennan was raised in the Okanagan and is thankful every day that he gets to live and work in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
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