Langford has approved a rezoning application for a developer to build a 103-room hotel in its downtown.
The six-storey building on Goldstream Avenue will be branded Towneplace Suites by Marriott and accommodate short- and long-stay visitors, according to developer Metropolitan Hospitality Management.
It is expected to be open in late 2025, pending further development approvals, and will be Langford’s third major hotel after the Sheraton and Bear Mountain Resort in the city’s east end.
“It’s exciting and welcoming news that we are going to have an additional hotel, especially in our downtown core,” said Coun. Lillian Szpak, after council unanimously approved the rezoning application on Monday.
Coun. Mary Wagner said the hotel on three lots at 824, 832 and 838 Goldstream Ave. — between Peatt and Strathmore roads — fits in with Langford’s economic development plan and brings “good benefits” to the city.
“This is great timing,” said Wagner. “We’ve been hearing the need for more hotel spaces, especially with Royal Roads University coming along.”
The $98-million campus, at the corner of Peatt and Goldstream, is under construction and will be jointly operated by Royal Roads University, the University of Victoria, Camosun College and the Justice Institute of British Columbia, with room for between 400 and 600 students.
The new hotel is expected to feature a ground-floor commercial space with coffee shop and kitchen facilities and a business centre with meeting rooms, a swimming pool and rooms with full kitchens.
Estimates are the hotel would bring about 34,000 visitors a year to downtown Langford and create up to 40 jobs.
A spokesman for Metropolitan Hospitality Management declined to give further details.
The property is owned by Ho Goon Holdings Inc. The 0.92-acre site contains an Asian restaurant in the centre and two single-family homes on either side.
The three properties would be consolidated prior to the city issuing a development permit, according to a city staff report on April 8.
The proposed hotel parking includes 41 stalls on the surface behind the hotel and 62 stalls in the lower parkade.
Along the west side of the site, the proposed building footprint has a pool room against the front property line, which would require a variance to the front yard setback.
A commercial retail unit is planned for the southeastern corner of the hotel and includes access to a patio area that would be shared with hotel guests, according to city staff.
The applicant has submitted an arborist report that examined 20 existing onsite trees, all of which are proposed to be removed for the development.
The staff report said rezoning the properties will increase the assessed value of the lands and eventually increase municipal revenue.
Because the developer is responsible for all frontage improvements, the direct capital costs to the city associated with the development will be negligible, the report said.
The developer is also expected to pay the city $70,380 in amenity fees and $445,107 in development cost charges.
A public hearing on the proposal was waived last month and council proceeded to first, second and third readings on Monday. Council is expected to adopt the rezoning at a future meeting before it goes forward to the development-permit stage.
An open house on Feb. 16 by Metropolitan Hospitality Management only drew 13 participants, most from neighbouring condos, according to Srongitharm Consulting.
They voiced concerns about height, parking and street driveway access, and the removal of trees. They also asked about landscaping, access to the pool facilities and using the meeting facilities.
Metropolitan Hospitality Management is helmed by president Len Wansbrough with a portfolio that includes Holiday Inn Express locations in Colwood and Courtenay, Holiday Inn Elk Lake and Motel 6 Victoria Airport, and a developer and manager of residential and commercial properties.
