Eco-cabins receive support
An off-the-grid resort proposal won the tentative support of West Kelowna council this week over the objections of city staff.
Council unanimously agreed to consider changing the official community plan to allow Trent Kitsch to build 27 so-called eco-cabins at Seclusion Bay at the boundary between West Kelowna and Peachland.
The project, many details of which need to be worked out, would have its own water supply and sewage treatment rather than being connected to municipal services.
"You're definitely thinking out of the box," Coun. Rusty Ensign told Kitsch at Tuesday's council meeting. "It's a very unique project. I think it'll be the talk of the town if you get it off the ground."
“The off-the-grid approach to this is why I'm not bothered about (the project's departure from) the official community plan,” said Coun. Rick De Jong.
“You've got some major hurdles on water and sewer, but I do find this a unique vision, and I'm certainly willing to support it going to first reading,” De Jong said.
Municipal staff had recommended council reject the proposal, saying there were too many unknowns regarding services like water and sewer. Staff also noted the property at 3060 Seclusion Bay Rd. is outside West Kelowna's urban areas and is currently classed as rural reserve.
But Mayor Doug Findlater said he found that designation to be surprising, and said the hillside site close to other developed areas didn't strike him as particularly rural in nature.
“I see this as an infill development in a populated area,” Findlater said. Findlater also described Kitsch as a “can-do” guy.
Kitsch, whose other business interests have included a popular line of men's underwear and a federally-licenced marijuana-growing plant in West Kelowna, said he was confident the technical challenges with his proposed eco-resort could be resolved.
“It would be our goal to address all those issues with the best engineers and professionals and design the best project that we can,” Kitsch said.
A public hearing on the proposed changes to the site's classification within the official community plan from rural reserve to tourist commercial will be held at a later date.
Plans show each of the cabins to be about 1,100 square feet, with a kitchen and a bedroom.