By Roy Wood, Special to the Times Chronicle
With hardly any discussion, Osoyoos council unanimously rejected a proposal to allow conversion of a large portion of the Walton’s Lakefront RV Resort clubhouse into five motel units.
Before the proposed re-zoning was presented for first reading at a recent council meeting, members of council had received dozens of letters from site owners objecting to the proposal.
Walton’s is a 72-unit strata development designed for recreational vehicles including motor homes, trailers and campers. Most of the occupancy is seasonal.
The clubhouse occupies one much larger strata lot and provides amenities to occupants of the other 71 sites.
The application for re-zoning sought to include “motel” as one of the permitted uses under the existing “Campground Commercial” designation.
According to a report from planner Jerritt Cloney, “(T)he ultimate aim of this amendment (is) to convert a portion of an existing structure – commonly referred to as a ‘clubhouse’ – into 5 ‘Motel’ units.”
The facility currently includes a lounge, pool, hot tub, gym, laundry facilities and washrooms. Virtually of the letters from site owners expressed concern that the conversion would result in the loss of some or all of the amenities provided by the clubhouse.
Aerial view of Walton’s Resort with subject property at top.
Town of Osoyoos image
Several of the site owners said that when they were buying their sites they were told that the clubhouse be an ongoing feature of the campground.
Not only that, but they claim they were told that when all the sites were sold, the building would be sold to the strata association for one dollar and would become the property and responsibility of the association.
Several members of the strata expressed concern that losing the clubhouse amenities would result in a reduction in the value of their properties. There were also concerns over the lack of communication from the developer and fears about increased traffic and demand for parking.
One section of Cloney’s report pointed out potential downsides of the proposal for site owners: “Administration recognizes with an increase in both the permitted uses on the subject site, as well as increase in number of accommodation units to the existing site, there could be adverse effects experienced, particularly by existing campground users.
“This could come in the form of increased numbers of users frequenting the campground, demand for off-street parking, or utility services provided to the site.”
The report said that the developer told the town:
- The intent of the proposed amendment is to convert only a part of the clubhouse and it would become a mixed-use building;
- Part of the structure would continue to provide the facilities to site owners; and
- The motel units would be primarily for use by guests of site owners.
Planner Chris Garrish told council the rezoning bylaw matter was up for first and second reading. If it passed, the process would move forward to the public hearing stage followed by third reading and adoption.
“If the application is denied today, then this case will be closed and that will be the end of it,” he said.
Mayor Sue McKortoff acknowledged the large number of letters from owners even though the public meeting part of the re-zoning process has not occurred. “However, we have them and we’ve had to look at them.”
Councillor Myers Bennett immediately proposed that the zoning amendment by law be denied. After a very brief discussion all five council members voted to deny the proposal.
