麻豆精选 council has shut down a bid to rezone a Pandosy property for a hotel, despite acknowledging the city needs more rooms in the area.
The property (2565-2579 Pandosy) is located between Patterson and Wardlaw avenues. The surrounding neighbourhood includes mixed-use buildings, apartment housing, and single detached homes.
The lot is currently zoned for infill housing, which Coun. Rick Webber felt that a hotel was a better fit than a hotel.
鈥淲e need hotels in that area鈥攖hat might not be the best location for it,鈥� Webber added.
Council also heard the property is under a court-ordered sale. Although the owner鈥檚 representative said that it wouldn鈥檛 affect development, Coun. Ron Cannan said he wanted the matter resolved before council committed to rezoning.
鈥淥nce council grants rezoning of the land, we basically eliminate our control of future land use, and possibly in the future, this might not be the best use for a hotel.鈥�
Plans called for a six-storey hotel, with the potential to add three more through density bonusing. Staff said the owner was willing to register a six-storey height covenant, but several councillors still had concerns.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of commercial activity, and my gut tells me this thing is too small to handle that,鈥� Coun. Luke Stack said.
Coun. Mohini Singh also opposed the rezoning.
鈥淚 recognize there is a shortage of hotels in that area,鈥� she said. 鈥淟ike my colleagues, I鈥檓 a little nervous about the speculative nature of this project.鈥�
Mayor Tom Dyas said the proposal could return in revised form.
鈥淭here are too many loose ends at this point,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f the plan is tightened up and brought back, it鈥檚 something we鈥檇 like to consider.鈥�
