The next Revelstoke City Council meeting on Oct. 27 will see the final vote in the controversial zoning bylaw amendment application from Vancouver-based developer Hall Pacific, for their proposed Revelstoke Crossing development.
City councillors will vote whether to adopt proposed amendments that add grocery, pharmacy, shopping centre and health centre as permitted uses, and also move public assembly and entertainment from an accessory use to a permitted use, to comprehensive development zone 9.
Councillors’ votes will reflect whether they think these uses are appropriate for the area, currently a vacant lot near the intersection of the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 23 North, on Bend Road.
This application has successfully passed three previous readings and each time it has progressively gained more attention and discussion in the community. The implications of what this 11-store shopping strip may do to the downtown business core has caused the most dialogue, particularly if a new grocery and pharmacy are constructed.
Residents are concerned the proposed development will negatively affect the local market and recently Revelstoke businesses protested this bylaw amendment application, in favour of more in-depth analysis, by papering their windows. An online petition was also circulated.
In the last reading of this bylaw amendment request on Oct 13, councillors were split, with the vote at 4-2. It is likely that the community will be watching closely to see how this final vote and discussion pans out.
If the amendment does pass and is adopted, this does not mean the development will go ahead. It does allow future development on that land to include grocery and pharmacy though a development permit application needs to be approved by council.
The development permit application process does not include opportunities for public input unless a development variance is required.*
(*Edit: This has been edited as it previously stated the development permit application process did allow for public input opportunities.)
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