A company that's had an application before the city of Revelstoke for four years to build lots in the Johnson Heights neighbourhood, calls the wait "insane."

John Bastemayer, one of the owners of Walkabout Holdings Ltd., along with Chris Genoevese, Dave Brunsrud and William Cox, says he started dealing with the city in 2017, and submitted a rezoning application in 2018 for the property at 1121 Johnson Way. Mayor and council voted on Sept. 27 to further delay the decision until after their term ends on Oct. 31.

"That meeting was just a joke," Bastemayar said over the phone. "Why are they even having meetings if they can't make a decision?"

However, councillors said during the meeting, that hopefully their decision eases the process.

A public hearing for the zoning amendment was set for Oct. 25, ten days after the municipal election, at the end of the current council's term.

Mayor and council passed first and second reading of a motion to approve the first phase of the proposed development. It needs the public hearing, to be read a third time, and approved by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, before the company can go ahead.

The first phase of the company's proposal is to build 24 single and double unit dwelling lots on its property adjacent to Oak Dr. and Johnson Way. It first needs the city to approve the zone change from rural residential to single and two family residential.

An aerial view of 1121 Johnson Way, the blue outline shows the property Walkabout Holdings Ltd. wants to develop. Screenshot from Revelstoke city council reports.

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is at the table because the only route to the neighbourhood, a turn off Highway One, is inadequate for the current neighbourhood, and more residents would make it worse.

Before the ministry will sign off on the bylaw amending the zoning for phase one, the city and developer have to show how they'll improve the intersection at Highway One and Oak Dr., or build a connector between Oak Dr. and Townley street, before anyone moves into the new lots.

Councillor Tim Palmer worried that holding a public hearing right after the election wouldn't give city administrators enough time to integrate public input from a hearing into their report for councillors before they approve the amendment.

He proposed a motion to delay the public hearing until after the new council starts up. This motion was ultimately approved, councillors Nicole Cherlet and Rob Elliott voted against it.

Elliott said, "The developer has been on the bubble for awhile, let's move forward."

Revelstoke's lead planner, Paul Simon, said he didn't work with the city when the application first went in. But he said that council wanted city administrators to prioritize finishing the Official City Plan, which was approved on Jul. 22. Work on the Johnson Heights Neighbourhood plan fell on the wayside because of this. That is partly why the city has delayed approving the zoning amendment.

In its report to council the planning department said it expects to work on the neighbourhood plan into 2023. Staff recommend council put a covenant on the land after phase one until the plan is complete, so infrastructure development aligns with the city's vision.

Bastemayer blames the delay on a "revolving door" at the city, but says since Simon and Revelstoke's Director of Infrastructure Steve Black have started there they have made more progress with their application.

Simon said it's no secret that Johnson Heights is a great area to "potentially facilitate some residential development, but there are major infrastructure constraints."

The biggest one is the connectivity to the rest of town. The others include upgrading the Oscar St. lift station, storm water collection and a road system in the neighbourhood with proper gutters, ditches and sidewalks.

Subsequent phases of the development propose row houses, mixed-use buildings, live and work buildings, and apartment buildings. In its report city staff said each phase will require approval from the city. This process allows the city to negotiate amenities and "works and services for necessary infrastructure" with the developer.

Councillor Jackie Rhind said if the public hearing is held right after an election at the end of the council's four-year term, there's a real risk that there would have to be another one with the new council.

"And that’s more expensive for the taxpayer and slower for the developer." She said. "So even though it seems more drawn out, it actually is cleaner, hopefully."

Once the next council starts its terms in Nov., a date for the public hearing will be set.

Bastemayer is very disappointed with the decision, especially knowing the need for housing options in town.

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR A RADIO REPORT THAT AIRED ON STOKEFM ON SEPT. 28.