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We are nearing the end of 2006
and it has turned out to be a banner year in Revelstoke. We have made
some great progress throughout the community. There has been a
significant forward momentum in moving Revelstoke Mountain Resort closer
to realization. Building permits for the community were up from last
year which was an increase in the year before that. We have finalized or
started many processes this past year.
As well we have seen
staff replacements and department reorganization. We welcomed this past
year our new Director of Planning all the way from New Brunswick, Hap
Stelling. Hap in turn has led a restructuring of the Planning Department
which has had a huge increase in workload, and the future says that this
department will only get busier. Our new Chief Administrative Officer,
Ross McPhee came to us via Rossland and has done an admirable job of not
only getting up to speed with everything that is happening here but also
to take charge of running the city and also spearheading some of the
process. I know that Ross is able to handle anything myself or Council
can throw at him. This past month has seen our Director of Engineering
and Public works Bryant Yeomans retire and we are in the middle of
shortlisting, interviewing, and hopefully filling that position.
I believe it is always
important to look back on the past year to help guide us into the next
year. The coming year will see more development, more studies, more
community processes, with the end result being hopefully more community
involvement and improvements. The first process in the new year will be
a public hearing on January 8th for an Official Community Plan Amendment
Bylaw and Zoning Amendment Bylaw for the Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The
Public Hearing will be held at the Community Centre starting at 7:00
p.m. This is an extremely important process as nothing in the way of
construction will happen without this in place. This bylaw has been
approximately 6 months in the making and is the result of a lot of work
by a lot of people. I cannot name them all but it did involve Regional
District Staff and Board, as well as City Staff and Council, City
Consultants, and Staff and Owners of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. I think
we have a very good document to take to the public and look forward to
hearing from you. We will be taking submissions from referral agencies
as well as the public up to and including the public hearing date.
Remember January 8th at 7 p.m. at the Community Centre.
This is only the very tip
of the iceberg in terms of what we will be looking at in the coming year
as we head into what I believe will be one of the biggest years in this
community’s development. We will endeavor to keep the public informed as
much as possible and it is only with your feedback that we, as Council,
can make decisions.
I want to wish you all
the best of the season and I hope the New Year brings you good health
and happiness.
Mayor Mark McKee
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