The takeaway from the City of Revelstoke council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6 was communication. With two public hearings related to vacation rentals and one on the zoning uses of the old Mountain View School, the process that plays out during the meeting is often abrupt and personal for those involved.
Applicants, their supporters and opponents stand up and speak their thoughts to council — sometimes it’s the first time they’ve interacted with each other. Although polite, it’s often the type of comment that is likely confronting to hear in person.
And when time, hope and the future of what an applicant can do with their property is on the line, it’s personal. One applicant left the room after the failed hearing holding back tears.
“This is a horrible process I think,” resident Brian Tobin said.
Both vacation rental applications for 424 Third Street East and 2101 Mary Hansen Place, following their public hearings, were rejected.
Neighbours to the 424 Third Street East application were concerned about the area’s severe lack in parking, which sees them coordinating schedules with each other. Also the proximity to the other houses saw it not as a viable option for a vacation rental.
“This is going to have a huge impact on our lives. And we appeal to you to consider that long-term impact,” neighbour Jill Zacharias said
Councillors sided with the significant amount of opposing neighbours in attendance.
“If there is sign of opposition from the neighbours … I can’t support, for the most part of applications,” Coun. Aaron Orlando said. “This is the case here.”
Coun. Gary Sulz echoed his thoughts. “The real concern isn’t about change but acceptance of what’s going on in their neighbourhood. I won’t support this going forward,” he said.
In general, many neighbours seem worried that vacation rental users will be partiers, with plenty of horror stories bandied about. While bylaw officers, property managers and the RCMP can be called, it’s clear neighbours don’t want that situation in the first place.
And while one applicant noted that renting his house out might not be better than some temporary vacationers, it appears many people are concerned with the permanency of the zoning once a house is sold.
“We buy into a neighbourhood when we build,” resident Fred Olsson said in opposition of a vacation rental application at 2101 Mary Hansen Place. “This rezoning would be a life long death sentence for this neighbourhood. It is just not appropriate.”
As many cities struggle with how to legalize and deal with vacation rentals, Revelstoke’s rezoning bylaw process is not a perfect solution.
“I think that it is unfortunate that the vacation rental process has been blindsiding,” resident Stephanie Melynk said. “I think there is room for a collaborative conversation to be had.”
But despite the frequent lengthy public hearings at the start of city council meetings, Coun. Linda Nixon said the way Revelstoke is doing it with rezoning gives people a voice.
“Revelstoke is leading in trying to deal with vacation rentals,” she said. “I know other communities are just going with a business license and dealing with the problems after the fact.”
Health services approved at old Mountain View School building
The use of health clinic at the Mountain View School was approved at the city council meeting on Dec. 6. Although there was opposition from the Selkirk Medical Group, it became clear in the meeting that the question was not regarding competition but whether a medical clinic was appropriate in the Mountain View building.
The city’s development services manager Dean Strachan informed the meeting that 267 properties in Revelstoke already have C1 commercial zoning that allows health services — meaning these properties are allowed to have a medical operation in them.
But with three representatives from Selkirk Medical Group voicing their concern at how another clinic in town could impact the livelihoods of their doctors, it was a chance for the community to hear and understand how fortunate we are in terms of health services compared to other cities.
Selkirk’s physicians work in partnership with the province through the Queen Victoria Hospital.
“We are so lucky we have this clinic in the community,” Coun. Brothers said. “I’m really appreciative of the fact they brought that to our attention.”
Mountain View’s potential developer Gareth Jones said the long-term plan for his clinic will be to have five physicians. Jones’ wife is a doctor but with a Salmon-Arm based practice, she will not be working at the Mountain View practice.
In the end, council voted unanimously to support the heritage revitalization agreement for Mountain View School, including an amendment that allows for a health clinic, among many other potential uses.
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