Council approves extension on proposed waterfront hotel

Approving amendments to the proposed hotel on the waterfront led to some heated exchanges between the mayor and some councillors Monday night.

The amendments, which were approved by council, will allow the 150-room hotel to add another 1.2 metres to accommodate the still unnamed four-star hotel brand’s minimum standards.

Although the seven storey hotel only requires the 1.2 metre extension, the amendment allows for 2 metres. The city will also allow parking further than 50 metres from the hotel in the Pearl Street lot at Prince Arthur’s Landing.

Coun. Lynda Rydholm questioned developer Gisele MacDonald on how the hotel can ensure members of the public will be able to park at the Marina.

Rydholm said she wants the city to continue to make the park a place where members of the public feel welcome. She was called out of order by mayor Keith Hobbs but raised her voice, speaking overtop of the mayor’s calls.

"This isn’t about height change this is about changing activities," Rydholm said. "I want to make sure members of the community will get to use their park."

Rydholm was still speaking to Hobbs without a microphone when Coun. Ken Boshcoff asked Macdonald if the hotel has proposed underground parking, why is it necessary to have 90 spots at the Pearl Street lot. Boshcoff was called out of order by Hobbs, who wanted councillors to focus on the height change.

"Let’s deal with the question at hand here I’m going to ask you councilors one more time," Hobbs said. "I’m getting a little aggravated here."

Coun. Pugh pointed out that both the height change and parking requests were in the same amendment and councillors should be allowed to ask question on both issues.

"This motion does deal with parking with all due respect," Pugh said.

"Sorry was there a question there?" Hobbs asked Pugh after a long silence.

MacDonald reminded council that the private developers were asked to build the proposed hotel and condominiums at the waterfront by city.

"Sometimes I sort of get the feeling that we sought you out," MacDonald told council. "We have made the commitment here to do as a private developer what we need to do…nobody is getting a free ride here. Sometimes I get the feeling that (it’s perceived) I or the development team are trying to get more out of this."

Manshield’s Peter Belluz said that the $25 million hotel would bring $900,000 a year in taxes and provide 355 direct and indirect jobs.

Hobbs wanted the parking to be dealt with separately because council had the Prince Arhtur’s Landing parking management study directly after the hotel amendments. Council approved the plan, which would see 905 spaces, an increase from 523, on the waterfront.

Also Monday, the city unanimously approved zoning amendments for a proposed 80-unit condominium at the Thunder Bay Country Club.

Developer Robert Zanette said it’s part of a plan that includes a new clubhouse, pro-shop, restaurant and banquet facility.

Zanette hopes to start construction in mid-October or whenever the golf season ends.