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Fear of 91Ƶhotel in a vineyard91Ƶ prompts Kelowna council to defer culinary school decision

City council needs assurance the educational facility proposed at Summerhill Winery will be used as stated
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Summerhill Pyramid Winery. (Contributed)

Kelowna city council has deferred its decision on whether it will endorse plans for a culinary school at Summerhill Pyramid Winery.

City staff recommended council91Ƶs support for the concept of an educational culinary facility built on the Summerhill Pyramid Winery property located on Chute Lake Road. If council gave the thumbs up, the project would91Ƶve gone to the provincial Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) for consideration.

But council tabled the discussion on Monday (March 1), wanting to first hear from the developer himself.

A concept rendering of the proposed “Culinary College for Humanity.” (Contributed)
A concept rendering of the proposed 91ƵCulinary College for Humanity.91Ƶ (Contributed)

Stephen Cipes, the owner of Summerhill Pyramid Winery, is the man behind the 91ƵCulinary College for Humanity91Ƶ and claims the proposed facility is unique both provincially or nationally. It would include a culinary facility, educational stays, wine tasting, food-producing gardens, and parking. The eight-floor, 35,000-square-foot building would consist of 150 rooms to be used solely by students and faculty, Cipes stated in his application to the city.

91ƵMy concern about this is, while it speaks to a really unique opportunity 91Ƶ I don91Ƶt want it to be used as a hotel in a vineyard,91Ƶ said Coun. Mohini Singh.

Several councillors expressed that same fear, saying there91Ƶs a risk of the facility becoming a culinary travel destination rather than the proposed educational use.

91ƵAs somebody who is looking at a seven or eight-storey, 150 unit potential hotel on agriculture land outside our permanent growth boundary, that91Ƶs frightening to me,91Ƶ said Coun. Gail Given.

Mayor Colin Basran was the lone supporter of the project, saying it would be a tremendous benefit to the city91Ƶs agriculture in the long term.

91ƵAgri-tourism, culinary tourism are the hallmarks of this valley,91Ƶ said Basran. 91ƵI appreciate council91Ƶs concerns about the form of the building, but we can control that in the next phase.91Ƶ

The project should come back before council next Monday, pending Cipes91Ƶ availability. If endorsed by council and approved by the ALC, Cipes would have to apply for a zoning amendment. At that point, council would give input on building height and proposed use.

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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com



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