MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY -
An extension of Mountain View County's business support pilot project will allow for unserviced, overnight, self-contained camping and accommodation on properties in the municipality through 2024.
County council approved the move during a December regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and online.
It also allows for hosting events associated with approved uses contained within development permits for business agri-tourism, public riding arena, and event facilities and businesses within applicable direct control districts while the current land use bylaw review continues.
The pilot was approved in May 2022 and later extended to the end of 2023.
Businesses with approved development permits for riding arena, agri-tourism and direct control districts were eligible. Businesses were required to register before taking part in the pilot.
A total of five businesses took part in 2023, with three complaints received related to one of the five businesses, council heard.
At the conclusion of the pilot this year, administration asked participating businesses a number of questions to gauge response to the program.
One question was “Did participating in the pilot program provide a benefit to your business and your clients?”
Responses included: “Absolutely, it was a great things for our business”, “It gave us flexibility to host events on short notice. And of course we didn’t have to pay for the event permit, which made our events profitable for us” and “It was very beneficial to be able to accommodate the event participants with the opportunity to be at the same facility as their horses.”
Proposed amendments being considered as part of the ongoing land use bylaw review would allow for businesses to apply for un-serviced overnight self-contained accommodation as part of their development proposal through issuance of the development permit, council heard.
“It may be considered reasonable to offer the pilot project for one final year to support the business community in operating how they have been doing so for the past two years given the length of time it takes to conclude the land use bylaw review and obtain a development permit to operate as such,” chief administrative officer Jeff Holmes said in a briefing note to council.
Council defeated a motion put forward by Coun. Peggy Johnson that any business taking part in the pilot that received a complaint in 2023 not be permitted to take part in 2024.
Council then carried a motion extending the pilot project for 2024.
