With the development permit for its planned new multi-million-dollar lodge and waste water treatment plant recently upheld, Camp Evergreen is moving forward with its plans, says executive director Bob Kroeker.
The project was approved by the Mountain View County municipal planning commission approval authority on May 16. The approval was upheld by the subdivision and development appeal board following an appeal by several area residents last month.
The $4.7-million project will see the construction of a two-storey, 14,000-square-foot building near existing buildings at the camp, as well as a new septic system.
The camp is owned and operated by the Alberta Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches. About 4,400 young campers attended the camp in 2018.
Having the permit upheld by the appeal board on July 18 was welcome news, he said.
“It is one of many steps, but certainly a big one for sure,” Kroeker said during a tour of the camp last week. “Now we are waiting to hear back from Alberta Environment on our septic system proposal. That is another step and another process.”
The camp applied with Alberta Environment in March.
“We’ve heard that that could take up to a year,” he said. “The county has told us that if we want to expand or we want to build anything new, we have to upgrade our septic system. So it’s all part and parcel.”
Fundraising for the new lodge and septic system is now underway, with organizers hoping to raise $7 million, he said.
“We are doing that through the church and through individuals both connected with our conference and not connected with our conference,” he said.
“It will cost $4.7 million to build us the lodge and then we need just over a million for the septic system,” he said. “So we are trying to raise $7 million total, and that includes a little bit of a contingency. We’re hoping some of that will come from grants.”
As for a timeline for the project to be completed, he said, “As soon as possible. It’s dependent on the Alberta government and do they like our proposal and will they say yes. And coupled with that will the money come in? Those are two big factors.
“We would like to start building tomorrow if we could, but that isn’t the reality.”
The development permit comes with a number of conditions, including the following:
• The applicant, landowner and/or operator shall ensure that all waste products, such as garbage, that is generated on the subject property is disposed of in bear-resistant garbage bins and disposed of in a timely manner at a certified waste management facility.
• Parking shall be contained as established on the subject parcel. No parking of vehicles shall be permitted on any county allowances at any time.
• Future development, expansion, new or additional uses, shall require the issuance of a new development permit.
In issuing its ruling upholding the development permit on July 18, the subdivision and development appeal board issued a number of additional conditions, including that the existing lodge kitchen be decommissioned once the new lodge is up and running.
