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Lacombe County councillors heading to Vernon

Lacombe County councillors are heading to Vernon, B.C. to learn the do’s and don’ts of RV resort development.

Lacombe County councillors are heading to Vernon, B.C. to learn the do’s and don’ts of RV resort development.

Faced with proposed developments that could see well over 2,000 RV lots developed around Gull and Sylvan Lakes over time, county council has been taking a cautious approach to how best to revamp its bylaws to make way for the projects while preventing “overdevelopment.”

The RV resorts have already proved controversial, with some rural landowners and summer village residents opposed to the scale of development proposed.

A bus tour of up to four existing RV resorts in Central Alberta has been arranged for Tuesday. Councillors plan to visit Raymond Shores, on Gull Lake; Coyote Creek Golf and RV Resort, west of Sundre; and Carefree Resort and Gleniffer Lake Resort.

Council also debated the merits of flying to B.C. to visit Vernon’s Swan Lake Resort.

Councillor Rod McDermand said considering the county is looking at up to 2,800 lots in future RV resorts, it is worth the cost to go to B.C. to check out an “ideal” type of RV development.

The developers behind proposed 423-lot Skyy Country Resort near the Summer Village of Sunbreaker Cove on Sylvan Lake have said Swan Lake Resort is similar to what they have in mind.

“It would be nice to look at the worst and the best and make a judgment call,” said McDermand.

Councillor Keith Stephenson agreed that it was worth checking out Swan Lake if it would give council a sense of how Skyy Country could look.

But Councillor Cliff Soper questioned the need to go to B.C.

County Reeve Terry Engen supports the trip.

Council voted in favour of flying to B.C. on July 13. The cost of the trip has not yet been determined.

pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com