City council will decided if a hotel planned for next to 琉璃神社 International Airport can rise from three storeys to six at an upcoming public hearing.

鈥淭he height restrictions for non-airport uses in the CD12 zone aim to avoid interference with airport operations; however, the hotel has received preliminary approval from the necessary authorities,鈥� a staff report reads. 鈥淭he proposed height is essential for the hotel鈥檚 functionality.鈥�

The Sutton Place Hotel development was unveiled during a new conference in January 2024. It features 245 suites, a restaurant and banquet facilities and is planned for property that is currently the ready lot for car rental operations. A seven-level 1,000-stall parkade was also proposed, but that project does not appear in the public hearing documents.

The developer behind the project, B.C.-based Northland Properties, is also asking for variances to proposed hotel signage.

The requested changes include quadrupling the size of a canopy sign (3.86 m2 to 16.56 m2) and allowing a fascia sign seven times larger than permitted under the city鈥檚 sign bylaw (4.0 m2 to 29.47m2). 

鈥淭he sign maximums within this section are more restricted than in other sections to prevent overpowering signs from adversely affecting neighbouring residential areas,鈥� the staff report reads. 鈥淗owever, the hotel functions more like a major commercial operation and does not border any residential uses.

Staff note the size of the signs is proportional to the hotel and does not overwhelm the building frontage or its canopy. According to the report, the sign bylaw is currently being revised which will address some of the concerns with signage in comprehensive development zones.

Staff recommends support for the development.

The public hearing is Tuesday, Nov. 5 in council chambers starting at 4 p.m.