The new Revelstoke council re-affirmed support for a request that would see a parcel targeted for the development of a boutique hotel be incorporated into the city.
David Evans and Shelley Sharpe are looking to build a treehouse hotel on the property, which is located on Camozzi Road at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, but first they have requested the property be annexed into the city so they can use city services.
Council gave support for the request in April, but the province asked the new council if they wanted to continue the support.
The request needs to be approved by the provincial cabinet in order to move forward. If it receives provincial approval, a public process involving local stakeholders would be started.
One kink in the process is the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, which so far is opposing the annexation.
In a letter to the City of Revelstoke, Jan Thingsted, a planner with the CSRD, said the request was not supported by the Area B Rural Revelstoke Official Community Plan.
"While the OCP supports the Upper Bench transitioning from a rural area to urban/resort area, a comprehensive boundary extension strategy should first be established before considering individual properties for annexations," he wrote. "Such a strategy would take into account the entire Upper Bench area and examine critical issues like securing a safe and sustainable water supply for the Thomas Brook water users."
The Thomas Brook water users are contemplating an annexation request in order to connect to city water, however no formal request has come forward.
Dean Strachan, the manager of development services for the City of Revelstoke, told council that staff disagreed with the CSRD position. "It's a vacant parcel adjacent to the city with services nearby," he said.
Evans and Sharpe are proposing to build a hotel with a 10,000–15,000 square foot main lodge, surrounded by a number of treehouse-style suites on the property.
CRN to target hoarding
The Community Response Network is aiming to tackle the issue of compulsive hoarding in Revelstoke.
In a presentation to council, Stephanie Melnyk, the director of the CRN said hoarding was raised as an issue in Revelstoke.
"A number of the CRN committee members have come across hoarding examples in the community and it's not possible for just one agency to provide adequate support in the area of compulsive hoarding," she said. "It's a very complex issue and it requires a number of agencies to work together."
According to Wikipedia, compulsive hoarding "is a pattern of behaviour that is characterized by the excessive acquisition of and inability or unwillingness to discard large quantities of objects that cover the living areas of the home and cause significant distress or impairment."
Melnyk said she would be speaking with Dean Strachan, the manager of development services, to work on a strategy to address the issue. She noted the City of Vancouver set up a task force to look at the issue, and she hoped to something similar in Revelstoke.
"The key piece in here is having the support and involvement from the city," she said.
In an interview following the meeting, Melnyk said she would be unveiling more details in the future.
Brewery public hearing set
A public hearing will be held for Mt. Begbie Brewery's proposed move to Johnson Heights.
The brewery is looking to build a new, expanded facility on Oak Drive, below the Coast Hillcrest Hotel in Johnson Heights.
Before it can do so, it is seeking a re-zoning that would allow for the construction of a brewery with a maximum capacity of 15,000 hectolitres per year.
Council gave first and second readings to the application at it's Jan. 13 meeting. The public hearing will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 2:30 p.m. in council chambers.
No opposition at vacation rental hearings
No one spoke at two vacation rental public hearings last week.
Public hearings were held for applications to turn homes at 412 Fourth Street West and 2077 Mountain Gate Road into vacation rentals.
The Times Review did not attend the hearings, but Dawn Levesque said no one spoke at the hearings. The applications will now go to council for third reading.
A public hearing was set for another vacation rental application for 817 Silver Avenue. It is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 2:30 p.m.