Third reading has been given to an OCP and zoning amendment to allow a proposed RV park on 34 Avenue North in Cranbrook.
The 47 acres of land are adjacent to the existing Rocky Pine RV Park and 13.45 acres of the parcel are proposed to be used as an RV campground.
The remaining 33 acres of the parcel would remain designated as residential land and could be used as housing down the line.
The RV park may be used for more permanent trailer housing in the meantime.
Councillor Wes Graham says it’s not a perfect solution but at least it is one.
“This is really an out-of-the-box band-aid for an unconventional time,” he said.
“Is it perfect? No, but it plugs a hole and provides some relief for those who are up to here with not knowing what to do.”
He says the city has been trying to get more housing in place but it’s in the hands of developers now.
“Some of those pressures would be relieved if one of the four current developers we’ve approved, would actually build their buildings, but we don’t have that,” he added.
“We’ve been active in trying to get zoning changes done but there’s been no result. We need these needs met and this provides some immediate relief.”
City staff have been asked to prepare a campground bylaw that could look at ways of collecting property tax from permanent campground residents.
That bylaw will need to be brought forward for reading before the zoning change is adopted.
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