The inclusion of Wilmer and Dry Gulch areas into the Steamboat – Jubilee Mountain Official Community Plan (OCP) – an 18-month plus process – was opposed at the last minute Dec. 6 by the director who led the process.

Prior to a vote for the third reading and approval of Bylaw No. 2499 – Steamboat – Jubilee Mountain Official Community Plan Bylaw Amendment, Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Electoral Area G director Gerry Wilkie said he wouldn’t support the document.

While originally supportive of the amendments, Wilkie said he couldn’t support a document that allows for a 1,000 unit ceiling for Radium Hot Springs Resort.

Wilkie said he supports the Wilmer components of the OCP amendment, noting it is “truly reflective” of the community, and he also supports the Dry Gulch area component but “I simply cannot support the large incorporation of density of Radium Hot Springs Resort. In that area, I simply feel it is far too much.”

The 1,000-unit ceiling had become, over the past month, “a lightning rod” of concern for Wilkie, he told the board. “I’ve been in a great deal of turmoil.”

He then asked the board to support him in not allowing the OCP amendments to proceed.

“At this point I was told I could, and this shows you the power of an electoral area director, that I could personally stop the whole thing,” Wilkie pointed out. “But this has to be a board decision,” he said, asking fellow directors to follow his lead.

“I believe the OCP would be, simply, horrible,” he said.

After a roughly 40 minute debate, the board passed Bylaw No. 2499, with Wilkie the lone vote opposed.

“I am extremely shocked by this,” exclaimed Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor and board director Dee Conklin, noting the OCP is “a lot bigger than Radium Resort,” which originally wanted 1,500 units included in the document.

Conklin warned that without the OCP amendments passing, Radium Resort could build whatever it wanted, including up to 1,500 units as there would be no guiding document for regional directors to follow.

Regional director of planning Andrew McLeod said the 1,000-unit figure represents the resort’s long-term vision and the land is not currently zoned for resort development. That means no regional board would be obligated to approve any zoning amendments in the future, he said.

Electoral Area F director Wendy Booth, echoing Conklin in praise for Wilkie’s handling of the OCP amendment process the past 18 months, admitted she was “a bit taken aback” by his desire to see it stopped.

“So much work has gone into it. If we don’t adopt this it is a hole in our land use planning in the Columbia Valley,” she said, suggesting some of the people at the bylaw public hearing are often opposing development.

“I don’t think those people are happy with development anywhere,” she said.

A public hearing was held Nov. 25 at the Lake Windermere Lions Club Hall, with concerns about impacts to the bighorn sheep herd foremost from the six people who addressed the hearing.

A further seven letters were received, with concerns expressed about the 1,000-unit ceiling suggested for Radium Hot Springs Resort.

Pat and Baiba Morrow of Wilmer noted, “It has the potential to bring thousands more seasonal residents whose sheer numbers will downgrade the social and environmental health of our valley. On top of that, the plan is not sustainable – there are already hundreds of empty or unfinished condos, town homes and trophy homes in the valley. If there is new construction in the valley, it should be focused on providing affordable housing.”

The OCP allows for future economic activity, one Dry Gulch resident wrote.

Stoddart Creek resident Nancy Huganin, also a director with the Resort Municipality of Jumbo, noted in an email to the RDEK, “There are many positive aspects to the OCP which will help this area in planning for future growth. There are many references to community water and sewer for our area. The small acreages which now enjoy their own wells and septic systems should be able to keep them if the higher density areas decide to pay for big pipe sewer or water. There is new technology in both residential and community sewer and water. Future innovation could bring even more options.”

Huganin also suggested an expansion to Radium Resort would be beneficial to the area.

“I agree with commercial areas such as Radium Resort being able to grow and offer our community more services. The Dry Gulch area is surrounded by beautiful parks, wetlands and wildlife, a great place to encourage more people to experience.”

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

Article Share