Apple Beach RV Park is awaiting tonight’s public hearing, when Town council will decide whether or not to adopt the latest proposal.
Apple Beach RV Park owners are hoping their rezoning proposal passes at tonight’s public hearing in council chambers at 7 p.m.
Staff are recommending that the plan is read a third time and adopted.
Recently council gave first and second reading to the plan and set Aug. 10 as the date for the hearing.
Initially, James and Catherine Hodge wanted to change the zoning of their RV park (at 915 Bulrush Road) to accommodate single family homes. They previously stated that the resort was no longer financially viable.
But after two public hearings council turned the proposal down, electing not to approve a significant rezoning prior to an Official Community Plan review.
Although the business owners are “not 100 per cent right now,” their latest plan is to build a motel or youth hostel under the Commercial Tourism 2 zone, which is consistent with the Official Community Plan.
In an interview August 7, Catherine Hodge said that she and her husband are waiting with baited breath to hear what council eventually decides.
“It could go either way, really,” she said. “It depends on the public opinion.”
At a previous hearing, a single part-time resident showed up to express opposition.
“If they were really interested I’m sure they would have been there with their pitchforks,” Hodge said, noting that other recent rezoning applications have elicited far more outcry from the public.
Hodge said she is worried that council will once again decide it needs to wait for the OCP review to finish before making zoning changes, leaving the business in limbo.
“It doesn’t really matter to them, they’re not the ones trying to run a business,” she said.
She noted that with several of their trees needing to come down, leaving their property as it is isn’t an option if they hope to remain financially viable.
Town planner Christopher Garrish said the Hodge’s proposed land use change is generally seen to be minor and won’t likely adversely affect any new policy directions contemplated in the OCP review.
The Agricultural Land Commission said it has no objection to the proposal.
The Ministry of Environment said the proposal does not directly impact species or ecosystems. But it stated the owners should be aware that species at risk, including the Spadefoot toad and painted turtle live adjacent to the site.
