LACOMBE — The Summer Village of Sunbreaker Cove has turned to the province’s Municipal Government Board to block a 500-lot RV resort on Sylvan Lake that opponents say will swamp local roads and a boat launch with seasonal newcomers.
The summer village argues in its appeal of Lacombe County’s November decision to rezone 148 acres of agricultural land for the proposed Skyy Country Golf and RV Resort that local facilities are already operating at peak and the development “would cause gross overcrowding and may or is likely to create dangerous situations.”
There are no provisions in the county bylaw to add additional boat launching sites or develop plans to deal with the expected “excessive motor vehicle traffic” the resort would create, says the appeal filed last month.
It is also claims the resort will be built near environmentally sensitive areas.
The appeal filed by Sunbreaker Cove Mayor Gil Clark also notes that the resort was approved before the county had finished approving a new set of zoning regulations for future RV resorts similar to Skyy Country.
Lacombe County commissioner Terry Hager said the parties involved in the dispute will meet with the Municipal Government Board in early February.
That is expected to be a preliminary meeting and both sides will then start mediation.
Lacombe County council passed a motion on Thursday to appoint two council members to participate in mediation talks, and to make an application to Alberta Municipal Affairs for funding help to cover the cost of a mediator, who charge about $200 an hour.
Skyy Country co-developer Lance Dzaman was not surprised the summer village took issue with the county’s approval.
“We thought this was coming,” he said outside council chambers. “So we’re hoping a four- to six-month appeal process would put us (starting) sometime next spring. Hopefully, by the summertime we’re in the ground.”
Dzaman is confident that concerns about the project can be addressed.
“Right from day one we’ve always been very open that we’re willing to talk to the county and the summer village. So I don’t think there’s anything there that’s new.
“It’s been discussed. Sometimes an answer is an answer, but it might not appease everybody.”
Developers propose to build about 450 condominium lots, about 50 daily rental spots, a nine-hole par-three golf course, small water park and recreation area on a site just a couple of kilometres from Sunbreaker Cove. It would be developed in four phases.
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com