Council clears two readings for five-storey hotel near Loch Lomond Road
Saint John council has taken the next formal steps toward a proposed hotel development on the city’s east side that would become the nearest hotel to Saint John Airport if it proceeds. At Monday’s meeting council gave first and second readings to the rezoning and bylaw amendments needed for a five-storey Hyatt hotel at 615–631 Loch Lomond Rd.
The development, being advanced by Ontario-based Lakeview Development in partnership with Hyatt Hotels, was recommended by the city’s planning advisory committee earlier this summer after a partial rezoning from mid-rise residential to business park was approved. The committee also supported a variance permitting the creation of a lot without street frontage to facilitate subdivision of the property.
"the project would operate under Hyatt Studios, the company’s extended-stay hotel brand."
The planning advisory committee recommended the developer be required to contribute $25,000 toward traffic-related improvements as a condition of approval. City staff told council a traffic-impact study identified existing level-of-service concerns at nearby intersections but concluded the proposed hotel itself is not expected to significantly worsen traffic operations in the area.
Coun. Paul Dempsey raised questions about the potential traffic effects during the council meeting, underscoring that local residents and commuters have been attentive to road and intersection performance near Loch Lomond Road. Council voted unanimously to advance the project to a third reading, expected at the next council meeting, where final approval would be required before the development can proceed.
Project details and local implications
According to materials presented to the planning advisory committee and council, Lakeview Development intends the property to operate under Hyatt Studios, Hyatt’s extended-stay brand that focuses on self-service amenities and in-room features while maintaining brand standards. No construction timeline was presented to council.
Locally, the proposal brings several clear implications for Saint John:
- Economic development: A branded hotel could increase visitor accommodation capacity on the east side, supporting nearby businesses and encouraging overnight stays tied to the airport and local industry.
- Land-use change: The rezoning from mid-rise residential to business park shifts the land-use character of the Loch Lomond site and sets a precedent for similar conversions elsewhere in the city’s growth areas.
- Traffic and infrastructure: Although the city’s traffic study did not attribute major new impacts to the hotel, councillors and the planning advisory committee sought a developer contribution to offset potential traffic improvements.
For residents, the most immediate effects would be on the local streetscape and traffic patterns around Loch Lomond Road. The developer’s $25,000 contribution toward traffic-related improvements is modest but signals the city’s intent to manage incremental impacts through conditions on development approvals.
Context in regional hospitality market
If built, the Loch Lomond hotel would sit roughly 25 minutes by road from Saint John Airport, making it the closest hotel to the facility. Hyatt operates internationally and franchises, manages and owns properties in more than 80 countries; the local proposal reflects broader interest from national and international chains in Atlantic Canada’s growing travel and business markets.
Municipal staff and councillors did not provide a construction start date or timeline at the meeting. The file will return to council for a third reading, the final municipal step before a development permit and any site work can proceed.
Saint John residents who want to follow the file can watch for the next council agenda for the third reading and any public-notice materials the city circulates about the project.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | 615–631 Loch Lomond Rd., Saint John |
| Proposal | Five-storey Hyatt hotel (Hyatt Studios brand) |
| Developer | Lakeview Development (Ontario-based) in partnership with Hyatt |
| Council action | First and second readings approved; third reading expected at next meeting |
| Traffic contribution | $25,000 recommended by PAC |
As the file advances through the municipal approval process, city staff, councillors and the developer will be watched closely by residents concerned about traffic, land use and the character of development on Saint John’s east side. The project underscores ongoing tensions between promoting economic growth and protecting established neighbourhood conditions — a familiar balance for a city that is both a regional service centre and a gateway to the province.
