Port Alberni city council has agreed to issue a development permit for the city's first new hotel since 1980.

Three local First Nations 鈥� Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Huu-ay-aht 鈥� have partnered to build a Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham in Port Alberni. The hotel will be a four-storey building with 76 rooms, a pool and a waterslide, located in front of the Walmart on Johnston Road.

Although the area is already zoned and subdivided for construction of the hotel, director of development services Scott Smith told council on Feb. 10 that the building needs a development variance permit in order to increase its maximum height to 14.1 metres.

The side of the building closest to residential homes on John Street will only be nine metres tall, which Smith says will 鈥渕itigate鈥� the impact of shadows on neighbouring properties

鈥淪o there will be no real shadow impact on nearby residents,鈥� he said.

He expects there will be "minimal" traffic impacts in the area, because the hotel will be located right next to a controlled light at Broughton Street. And because the property is located on a provincial highway, the Ministry of Transportation and Transit was required to sign off on the subdivision of the property.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e had no concerns whatsoever,鈥� said Smith.

Letters were sent to neighbouring properties within 100 metres and the city received no responses.

Council voted on Feb. 10 to issue the development variance permit and development permit for the hotel, with Councillor Debbie Haggard noting that the community of Port Alberni is "very short" of hotels. She said travellers will look for this sort of location when they are making travel plans.

鈥淚t鈥檚 got a hotel, it鈥檚 got shopping in case you need to pick up anything,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou can get gas. With people travelling to the communities of Ucluelet and Tofino, I鈥檓 sure it鈥檚 going to be full from the start.鈥�