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Volume 58 No. 22
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Sentinel
Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Company plans hotel, shopping complex A potential new hotel and shopping centre is in Kitimat’s future with the announcement of The Crossroads. Stuart Ramsay representing the Bryton Group presented his company’s vision to develop a “world class” hotel on the vacant, undeveloped lands along Highway 37S, between the Chamber of Commerce and Kitamaat Village Road. The company will also develop a commercial complex for eventual shopping opportunities. It’s the expected boom in Kitimat that brought the company here. Ramsay said the proposed LNG projects on the way will be significant population drivers. “There’s no question that Kitimat is on the cusp of an economic boom,” he said. That boom is part of what made Kitimat their destination for this project. Ramsay said that no other town in our region is currently being considered for other developments like this from them. “There’s over a kilometre of frontage there so when you’re looking for fantastic exposure for a commercial development it’s tough to get a strip that long,” he said. He said Prince Rupert is another town in a similar situation as us, but Kitimat has the advantage for them when it came to available land. “To find 50 acres in city limits with that length of frontage of commercial development, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity what’s going to happen in Kitimat,” he said. Ramsay explains that the hotel is the primary thrust of their proposal, and the rest will centre around the facility, which when fully complete will have 300 rooms, 150 regular guest rooms and 150 additional, extended stay units. “We know that if the hotel was open tomorrow it would be absolutely full,” said Ramsay. He expects a phased approach, with the 150 rooms coming first, before the 150 extended stay rooms. He could have his way, work would begin on the project this year, to be completed in 2014, but there are infrastructure concerns that need to be dealt with. He said there has been little to no upgrades to the town’s infrastructures for 20 years so they’ll be doing studies on how to deal with lift stations, water pressure boosters and sewer issues. That said, the company has been working closely with the town to solve these issues, and are looking at solutions. Although no firm agreements have been made, Ramsay said the hotel will likely be a Coast Hotels branded property once built. In his presentation to council, the slides showing concept drawings of the hotel were labelled Coast Hotel Kitimat, and he said the company has worked with Coast Hotels in the past. He said when it comes to the commercial developments in the same complex, they’ll be looking at picking stores which will complement the hotel business. Franchise and chain stores are likely to be attracted to the property, and Ramsay said they’ve already had calls from companies interested in moving in to Kitimat with them. While Tim Hortons of course already exists in the City Centre, Ramsay says their presence is actually quite positive in terms of seeing more recognizable businesses on the horizon. “Tim Hortons tends to be one of the pioneers and leaders of the industry. They’re phenomenal at taking advantage and recognizing opportunities,” he said. Continued on page 3
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
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1.30 INCLUDES TAX
Walter Thorne leads people on a heritage walk of the Nechako Neighbourhood, starting at the Public Safety Building, on May 22. The event is organized by the Kitimat Museum & Archives.
Mandatory spay/neuter program in the works The town is taking a closer look at the fees relating to animals running at large, seeking to increase the fines for animals which haven’t been fixed. The discussion at a recent council meeting was spurred by an outstanding council motion for the staff to report on possible ways to enhance animal control and manage animal overpopulation. Speaking to councillors, Kitimat Community Humane Society manager Maryann Oullet said that they currently microchip all the animals they can when they are adopted, and she will follow up on the new pet owners to get them to spay or neuter their animal. The practice at the shelter is to refund customers’ $125 adoption fee on proof that an animal has been spayed or neutered. Councillors finished the discussion by directing staff to develop a draft for a mandatory spay and neuter bylaw. However the staff’s own report points out that the Community Charter doesn’t allow the town to impound an animal for not being fixed, even if they impose those requirements.
But the town can make things more expensive for them. The proposed fee for catching an animal at large which is not spayed or neutered starts at $130 for the first offence and rises to $600 for the fifth. But the town is looking at the possibility of including in that a $100 voucher for the pet owner to have the pet spayed or neutered if they are caught. Animal breeders would be kept to the same standard, as the changes would apply to animals running at large. “I understand there are some people who have a problem with spaying and neutering their animals,” said Oullet, but she said she would like to see reasons from people for not fixing the animals, and she wants stricter controls and maybe higher fees on licences for kennels. Cats aren’t ignored in all this, and there is a proposal for a $130 fee for impounded cats which are not spayed or neutered, and would also include a $100 voucher for the pet owner to get that work done.
PM477761
Council talks Hirsch Creek Park ... page 7