A children's Halloween party was the cause of a packed parking lot rather than the District of Sechelt's public hearing for a new golf course hotel Wednesday night.
The Sechelt Golf Course Hotel requires rezoning and acquisition of agricultural land reserve (ALR) land from the Agricultural Land Commission.
Only a handful of men and one woman attended the hearing, which caused Mayor Cam Reid to joke, "This makes me nervous." In recent months, pubic hearings have drawn large and vocal crowds. On Wednesday night, people hung back until the hearing was nearly closed before popping up with a question or comment. Planning director Ray Parfitt first explained the proposed development and said the two, four-storey buildings with 72 units, a spa, laundry facilities, office and reception areas, conference meeting space and parking is in line with the West Porpoise Bay neighbourhood plan.
"[They] support the stay-and-play hotel concept subject to approval," said Parfitt.
The District would purchase the land from the ALR and are discussing leasing it back to the Sechelt Golf and Country Club on a long-term basis. Club members said the proposed development would provide greater stability for the club that has been struggling financially in recent years.
Coun. Keith Thirkell noted it would be the biggest hotel on the Coast and was interested in how many jobs the hotel and spa would provide, but numbers were not readily available.
Member Alec Lenko asked if the designation in the bylaw that says, "for golf course patrons" would exclude usage by soccer, hockey and ball teams that might come to the Coast for tournaments.
A representative from the club said the hotel would not be restricted to golfers alone, but would be for use by all.
The only concern that arose from the evening came from Coun. Warren Allan. After the public hearing concluded, he said council should not be entertaining new developments that will tax the sewer system and be given approval before other developments are finished.
"I worry that they will try to push this through at the next council meeting and before the election," Allan said.
