Motel looking to expand

Salmon Arm council will be reviewing a development permit application that, if approved, would allow the expansion of a motel on the west side of Salmon Arm.

At the Oct. 21 City of Salmon Arm planning and development committee meeting, committee members were presented with an application to expand the Travelodge at 2401 Ninth Ave. SW, along with the construction of an additional building.

The architect on the project, Vicki Topping, provided a letter to council explaining the rationale for the expansion.

“The new motel building will have 32 rooms, 20 of the rooms with kitchenettes,” she said. “The new addition to the property will cater to the travelling public, a growing industry in Salmon Arm.”

The expansion plans will also mean the demolition of a restaurant on the property, Pho Ly Vietnamese Noodle and Rice House.

With the addition of the new building, the Travelodge will increase its capacity from 35 units to 67 units.

The development permit includes one variance request to increase allowable height from 10 metres to 10.4 metres. This would allow for the new building’s sloped roof to match the dimensions of the current building.

“I’m certainly supportive of your application,” said Mayor Alan Harrison. “We need more hotel rooms, especially during peak time.”

He went on to call the expansion a “great addition to our city.”

The committee unanimously passed a motion to forward the matter to city council for final approval. The development permit application will be on the agenda for the Oct. 28 city council meeting.