The long saga surrounding a proposed addition to Ottawa’s Château Laurier could soon be coming to an end as the city’s planning committee on Friday rubber stamped the latest designs for the extension, the results of a compromise between the hotel owners and a local heritage group.

The latest decision on the controversial file required meetings from multiple committees on Friday.

While the built-heritage subcommittee, which includes some members of the public, tied 3-3 in its vote to approve the heritage permit for the addition, Ottawa’s planning committee ultimately approved the permit with a 7-2 vote and later approved the project’s site plan with a 9-1 vote.

Ottawa’s full city council will consider the recommendations at its meeting on Feb. 24. The National Capital Commission will also meet later this month to discuss granting federal land-use approval to the project.

The latest designs will see two towers with heights of 10 and 11 storeys, connected by a two-storey podium, added to the rear of the Château Laurier, backing onto Major’s Hill Park. The proposed addition would add 159 units to the hotel.

The current iteration of the proposed addition will include more elements of Indiana limestone already prevalent in the original structure and is structured to better preserve views from and integration with Major’s Hill Park.

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