Port Alberni city council has tabled a motion approving a development permit extension for the Beaufort Hotel for one month to give the owner time to deal with his burned building across the street.
Appearing before city council at their Monday meeting, Beaufort owner Paul Saroya said the existing permit expires next month, and that he needed one more year to finalize drawings for the redevelopment.
In his letter to council, Soroya said he had preliminary architectural plans in place and was preparing budget estimates.
Plans, specifications and financing are expected to be in place by July 2012, after which a building permit will be applied for, Soroya noted.
Soroya originally applied to re-develop the area two years ago.
Coun. Cindy Solda grilled Soroya about his request. “Why has this taken so long for start,” she asked. “The public is not happy and people don’t want this anymore.”
Also at issue is the derelict building across the street that Soroya also owns, which underwent fire damage last year.
“There are safety issues, people sleep in there, what if there is a fire again,” Solda asked.
The development permit extension should be postponed until the burned building is taken down, said Solda, who made a motion asking such.
“If we postpone until the building comes down he can come back and we can say yeah or nay,” Solda said.
Part of the development extension permit requires that the burned building be demolished, city manager Ken Watson said.
In response, Soroya said that the project has taken long to get off the ground because it’s financially complicated. His original plan was scuttled and he’s had to go to plan B. “I’m going to do it differently now but I can’t say how,” he said.
Soroya said he’s aware of complaints about goings on at the Beaufort, but “I cleaned up a lot of things – the drinking and sniffing,” he said. And when council wanted part of the building taken down he did so – at a loss, he added.
Soroya also wants the burned building taken down but the hold up is with the insurance company, he said. “I can’t decide until I hear from the insurance company what’s what,” he said. “When they settle I can take the building down.”
City council is frustrated and under pressure to clean the place up, Coun. Hira Chopra said. “We know your hands are tied but a lot of people aren’t happy with your place,” he said. “Ask insurance when the final date is for a decision to be made.”
If the permit expires Soroya can re-apply but would have to pay for the process fees again. But it’s within council’s right to table the motion, Watson said.
“I don’t want him to pay extra fees but want him to take the building down,” Solda said. “We need to solve the problem – it’s a festering thing.”
Soroya said he would be in touch with his insurance company.
Council tabled the motion to extend the permit and will revisit it at the next meeting on Feb. 13.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com
