Penticton residents can now share their opinions on a proposed zoning change for the El Rancho motel site. The site, located at 877 Westminster Ave W, is being considered for an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment.
Initially, the plan, discussed in a 2022 public hearing, aimed to rezone the properties from Tourist Commercial, Service Commercial, and Vehicle Service Station to a comprehensive development zone. This would accommodate a six-storey residential and commercial unit development. However, the rezoning did not make it past the third reading.
New provincial rules on short-term rentals have the developers wanting to change the future land use designation from Urban Residential back to Tourist Commercial. An amendment to the city’s OCP is required to change the future land use designation. The development, proposing over 300 mixed-use units for both short- and long-term stays, now seeks to rezone the site entirely to Tourist Commercial. Community engagement is currently underway. Feedback can be provided online until June 23, 2024, with information available at City Hall and on the city’s website.
