The Mountain View County municipal planning commission (MVC) has approved a development permit related to an existing recreational resort in the Coal Camp-Bearberry neighbourhood west of Sundre.
The approval came during the commission’s recent regularly scheduled meeting.
The property involved is located on the east side of Rge. Rd. 71 about one kilometre north of Highway 584.
The owner is the Schott’s Lake RV and Guest Ranch Inc. and the applicant is Michael Stephen and Kimberly Ann Verkerk.
The application involves 10 rooms, an eating establishment, indoor and outdoor patios and four cabins.
The existing owner purchased this property in late 2016, along with the adjacent property to the immediate west, with the desire to resurrect the lodge and its facilities, administration said in a briefing note to the commission.
“The first change began with a name change from Diamond Buffalo Lodge to Schott’s Lake RV and Guest Ranch to honour the lake that is on the northwest portion of the subject land,” the note states.
“Extensive renovations and cleanup have been completed on the accommodation units and the lodge to restore the existing facilities and to create a more welcoming, family-friendly environment for their guests. The facility will be open year round, and the lodge will be open full time as a restaurant and conference facility. Fire and health Inspections have been completed and the facility is able to now accept guests.”
The applicant has indicated that the two existing mobile homes that were put on the property for staff and office use will be removed in the future as they are in poor condition, members heard.
“They want to still use the two existing cabins, however they will not be available for use until later in the season as most of the renovations and cleanup work has been focused on the accommodation units and lodge.”
The development permit application is to acknowledge and consolidate the variety of uses that have existed for the last 30-plus years, members heard.
“It is the intent of the applicants/landowners to bring forward additional proposals in the future for the enhancement and expansion of this site.”
The approval came with a number of conditions, including that “future developments, expansion, new or additional uses, will require a new development permit” and that the applicant “shall ensure that use of firepits shall be in conformance with Mountain View County’s fire bylaw.”
The application was approved unanimously.
