Rossland city council has put the brakes on restricting short-term rentals at Red Mountain after pleas from the ski hill and a local tourism organization.
Red Mountain Resort president Don Thompson appeared before council last week, imploring them to change their minds about limiting the operation of short-term rentals at the ski hill to permanent residents only, in line with rules for other parts of town.
On June 19, council voted 4-2 in favor of amending its official community plan and zoning bylaw to that effect. But Thompson said that came without discussion with Red or other accommodators. In a letter to council, he noted the recently-updated OCP confirmed zoning for the mountain.
“This zoning has been relied on for purchasers of Red Mountain real estate development and the financial investors in our company,” he said, adding the fourth phase of the Caldera development has received its development permit.
“Disclosure statements have been filed (with reference to zoning and short-term rental), sales contracts have been executed with deposits, a construction loan is in place, engineering is complete, environmental review engagement is confirmed, and the general contractor for this $3.5 million project is ready to proceed with construction …
“To randomly remove this basis of investment is having an immediate and major effect on our ability to be a sustainable resort municipality and places investment confidence in Rossland in jeopardy.”
In a separate delegation, Tourism Rossland executive director Andras Lukacs supported Red’s request.
Council agreed to rescind its motion and asked staff to have further consultations on the issue.
Neither Thompson nor Lukacs responded to our interview requests, but mayor Andy Morel told us the city has already gathered extensive feedback on regulating short-term rentals. A moratorium has been in place for over a year on adding new ones. Their survey received over 700 comments, “which is pretty incredible for a small community.”
“It’s a difficult topic in the community,” he said, noting the provincial government may come up with guidelines that provide additional direction.
Morel said it’s important to recognize development at Red Mountain as well as Redstone golf course, “but it’s one community. We have people wanting to move here permanently as well as lots who want to visit, especially in the winter.
“To build community and neighbourhoods I think is a priority for our council and the community in general. It’s shown in the survey results. Folks want community, but it’s become expensive to own homes, and if there is an opportunity to also operate a short-term rental to help offset some of those costs, that’s a bonus.”
