Note: This story has been updated to correct an error in the initial version. The error also appears in the print version of the article that appears in the Feb. 25 issue of the Times Review.
Revelstoke city council gave support for two annexation requests from landowners in the South Revelstoke area.
The properties in question are both on Catherwood Road, next to Revelstoke Mountain Resort. They extend south along Catherwood from Shaver Road to Lennard Drive.
The requests come from Peter Bernacki, Melinda Bell and Richard Mickle, who own a 13 acre property at 3304 Catherwood Road; and David Evans, a developer who owns a 40 acre property at 3452 Catherwood Road.
Both properties are adjacent to the resort lands.
In separate letters to the city, the property owners note the fact the land in question is flat and has ski-out potential from the resort. Annexation would give them access to city services, which would facilitate development.
“With the ever increasing popularity of Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the need for world class accommodation at the base is something that is greatly needed if skier visit are to increase and sustainable jobs be created for the population of Revelstoke, wrote Evans in his annexation request.
Council supported the requests without discussion at its Feb. 24 meeting.
Last year, Evans made an annexation request for another property he owns on Camozzi Road that he intends to build a boutique hotel on.
The new requests could pose a dilemma for the city. Another group of nearby property owners are pondering an annexation request in order to solve their water issues.
As well, while the city supported Evans’ request for annexation last year, a staff report from the Columbia Shuswap Regional District opposed it, saying they prefer a strategy be developed for annexation of the South Revelstoke area, rather than approve applications piece-meal. However, at the CSRD’s Feb. 19 board meeting, directors passed a resolution supporting the request.
Correction: A previous version of this article stated the Columbia Shuswap Regional District did not support Evans’ boundary extension request. CSRD staff wrote a report opposing the annexation, but the board of directors passed a motion at their Feb. 19 meeting offering support to the annexation request.
