Penticton City Council has directed staff to prepare an Assent Voting (referendum) question for the Oct. 17, 2026 municipal election asking voters whether they support removing the trust conditions contained in a 1912 Indenture affecting the use of lands at 325 Power St.
Council reviewed several reports on July 14, including public engagement results, a hotel concept design and an economic impact study related to a proposed hotel attached to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre (PTCC).
The assent voting is about whether the historic trust conditions on the property should be removed. If approved by voters, it would allow the City to pursue future opportunities for a hotel attached to the PTCC.
"This voting opportunity is about updating an old land-use restriction that was put in place more than 100 years ago," said Blake Laven, General Manager of Development Services. "At that time, communities didn't have the planning tools we use today. Staff's research found the land was purchased by the City and that the original intent was to support gathering places for sports, events and the community. A hotel attached to the convention centre supports that vision."
The City also wants to clarify that Bambino Baseball Field is not part of the assent voting question. While council has directed staff to continue exploring options for the field and any related parkland changes, those decisions will not be considered on October 17.
The proposed hotel would not be owned or operated by the City. The current concept would see the City retain ownership of the land and lease it to a private hotel developer and operator.
A hotel impact study prepared by Colliers found that an attached hotel could:
• Generate approximately $29 million in annual economic activity
• Attract at least five additional conventions per year to Penticton
• Create 70 to 90 full-time jobs
• Generate more than $4 million in annual payroll
• Contribute approximately $203,000 to $218,000 annually in property taxes
• Generate approximately $1.1 million to $1.55 million in economic benefits, including $300,000 to $450,000 in development fees, $750,000 to $1 million in development cost charges and $75,000 to $100,000 in lease payments to the City
"A hotel attached to the convention centre has the potential to bring more visitors, events and economic benefits to Penticton," said Mayor Julius Bloomfield. "However, this decision belongs to the community. Council has chosen an assent voting process so residents can review the information, weigh the potential benefits and have the final say.”
Next steps
• Aug. 4: Council endorsement of the Assent Voting (referendum) question.
• August to October: The City will provide information to help residents understand the assent voting question and what it means.
• Oct. 17: Assent voting held as part of the municipal election.
• Future decisions regarding Bambino Field and any parkland changes, if required, would be considered separately.
For more information about this proposed project, visit: Penticton.ca/PTCC.