The Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) is holding a public information session on Tuesday because the resort wants to switch around density allowances on its land parcels. The resort is on crown land, and therefore has a Master Development Plan with the province, which allow the resort to build 16,600 bed units on its land.
RMR land is divided into 10 parcels, and each is allowed a specific amount of the total bed units, and commercial space. The areas at the base of the ski hill, which are the most developed, are allowed the most density. RMR wants to reallocate some of that density to other parcels. Particularly two parcels along Nichol Road near the intersection with Airport Way.
It is requesting to be able to reallocate a maximum of 30 per cent of the density from the area at the base of the ski hill, or zone 1, to other areas, with no more than 15 per cent allocated to any one zone.
Although the resort is on Crown Land, since it's within city limits it is zoned by the city, and the resort has to go through the city to request amendments to the zoning, and to obtain development permits, for example.
This request requires an amendment to the text of the bylaw that governs the resort's zoning. It first came before the previous council on Oct. 11, 2022. That council deferred the decision to the new council, who saw the motion on Feb. 14.
Council defeated the motion at that time. Councillors Tim Palmer, Tim Stapenhurst and Austin Luciow voted against it. Councillor Aaron Orlando was absent from the vote due to a conflict of interest with the resort. This led to a tie, which is a defeat. Under the Community Charter, provincial legislation that governs municipalities in B.C., mayors and councillors have 30 days after a motion is defeated to bring it back to the table. Mayor Gary Sulz brought it back to council on Feb. 28.
This time council agreed to pass the motion to second reading with the stipulation that RMR hold a public information session.
Councillor Palmer has expressed the most reservation about this zoning amendment, saying it's confusing to him so it will be confusing to the public, and that the city is rushing the decision through. He said he's not as concerned about the reallocation of density, as he is about implications that future development may have to the public's access to Williamson Lake, for example.
City of Revelstoke planning staff, on the other hand, support the request from RMR. They say that the way density is allocated now may lead to the resort core one day drawing vitality from downtown Revelstoke. They also say that allowing the resort to switch around density, doesn't mean it has free rein on future development—the resort will still have to get council approval for any new development.
The public information session will be held March 28 from 3-8 p.m. at the community centre. After the public information session, the city will hold a public hearing about this request.
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