Artist rendering of the proposed West Kelowna Baden Resort Spa.
Image Credit: Submitted/City of West Kelowna
June 20, 2021 - 7:00 AM
Not only did West Kelowna’s advisory planning commission unanimously support an application for a new health resort and spa in their city, they heaped praise on it.
The commission reviewed an application today, June 16, to create a special zone for the Baden Resort Spa on a hill overlooking Shannon Lake.
Plans call for a 188-room resort hotel, a dozen one-bedroom staff units, 10 two-bedroom guest cabins, spas and treatment rooms on the 13-acre site off Shannon View Drive.
“I just think this is awesome,” commission member Nicole Richard said. “I think it will really be a landmark for West Kelowna. I think it can bring international attention. It can be great for local health and wellness.”
“This is an unused, wasted piece of land that is up there on its own,” commission member Anthony Bastiaanssen said. “I can’t imagine it’s useful in any other way and I think this is a fantastic opportunity to add something different to the neighbourhood and to the area.”
The hilltop was part of a larger parcel of land that has been developed for condos and single-family homes.
This piece was approved for 49 townhouse units in 2011 but those were never built.
This is the hilltop location proposed for the spa.
Image Credit: Submitted/City of West Kelowna
“The Baden Spa is a response to a need in the marketplace for resort accommodation that is focused on health, wellness and relaxation,” says a letter accompanying the application.
“The Wellness sector is a well known growth area in the economy with many businesses directing their focus toward a population with discretionary income looking to find unique resort activities that are tailored to their more active lifestyles and complimentary to other recreational pursuits in their lives.”
Rather than conform to already existing zones, the developers want to create a unique concept development zone for the property.
Those plans are in a very preliminary state so a lot more details have to be filled in and things like traffic and geotechnical studies still need to be done before it goes to city council.
No details were given on what types of services will be provided but commission members likened it to the Sparkling Hills Resort in Vernon and city planners noted it will be designed to be a “high end” project.
- This story was originally published June 20, 2021.
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