Updated
‘Dismayed’ and ‘very concerned’ — these two comments sum up Revelstoke Mountain Resort’s and Northlands Properties collective feelings on the approved third reading of the bylaw rezoning application to allow for the controversial Camozzi Bench tree hotel to go ahead.
All councillors with the exception of Mayor Mark McKee and Coun. Scott Duke voted in favour of the motion on Wednesday August 3.
In a joint statement for RMR and its parent company Northland Properties, president of RMR Graham Rennie explained their disappointment at the council’s decision making.
“Instead of taking the time to consider the implications of this rezoning application more fully, or attempting to find a `win-win solution’ for both the Resort and the Applicant, Mr. Evans, City Council instead gave this developer exactly what he sought, to the detriment of the resort,” he said.
The companies believe the passed motion was a vote to ignore official community development plans and previous formal agreements.
“These plans and agreements were developed over a number of years by committed and well informed stakeholders and experts,” Rennie said. “Council chose to ignore these plans and commitments made in good faith – in order to support the interests of one developer who has now, in less than 12 months, been granted residential and commercial developments rights for more than 53 acres in Revelstoke.”
Rennie also comments that council’s view may not have aligned with what Revelstoke residents wanted. He referenced the results of survey calls about 1000 households received in the lead up to the public hearing.
Of the 50 per cent who had heard about the tree hotel plan, more than 75 per cent reported either a negative on undecided stance once they were informed that it contravened Revelstoke’s Official Community Plan and the Master Development Agreement between the Province and RMR.
“This demonstrates that the more people learned about the Comprehensive Development zoning being sought, the less likely they were to support it,” Rennie said.
The decision to pass a third reading last week was based on a plan that David Evans’s development of his 18-acre property will be controlled by a phased build-out in thirds. The first third can be started after rezoning has being finalized, the second phase is allowed after five years and the third after 10 years.
Revelstoke City and Evans will need to sign a Master Development Agreement before the re-zoning bylaw is adopted.
“It is our belief that this decision was all about short term gain and not about the long term development of either downtown Revelstoke or Revelstoke Mountain Resort,” Rennie said.
“This decision will divide Revelstoke by allowing accommodation and retail development on both sides of the Resort. This in the long term is bad for the economic health of the community and downtown, devalues the Resorts’ base lands and inhibits the ability for the Resort to recover their infrastructure costs to date and to invest in future improvements through real estate sales.”
David Evans responded to the statement and said the companies were continuing their negative rhetoric.
“We do not understand why RMR/Northlands continues to have so much negativity,” Evans wrote in an email statement.
“We would encourage RMR/Northlands to actively fix their deficiency list, sell their real-estate and invest in on-hill infrastructure as they are supposed to under the terms of the tenure.
“We are still open to talking to Northland’s and look forward to coming up with solutions to grow and enhance the future of RMR and our great City of Revelstoke.”
Read RMR/Northland Properties statement in full — Northland Official Comments on Treehouse Development.
Previous articles: Camozzi Bench tree hotel gets key council approval after public hearing
Camozzi Bench public hearing over, final decision to come
What did you think of this story?
Your feedback after we publish a story helps ensure we're always improving our reporting to better serve you
