Sparwood leases land to EVR for temporary parking

Sparwood council has approved a six-month lease allowing Elk Valley Resources to use part of 2600 Middletown Place for temporary parking as staff continue settling into the company’s new building.

Council voted in favour of the agreement at its March 3 meeting after hearing from Director of Planning and Development Patrick Sorfleet, who said only a small portion of the larger parcel would be affected.

“The proposal is to lease just a small portion of it,” Sorfleet said.

He said the area to be leased is zoned M1 and that the proposed use would be parking only, with no site modifications required. Parts of the wider property fall within a steep slope development permit area, but Sorfleet said the lease area itself would not require form and character approval because no development work is planned.

The six-month lease carries a total value of $5,575 excluding GST, with the arrangement moving month to month afterward at the district’s discretion if needed.

Sorfleet said EVR would be responsible for maintaining the leased area as well as the access road leading to it, including snow clearing if necessary. The company must also preserve District access to the milling’s piles stored on the property.

The lease also includes requirements around dust control, insurance and environmental responsibility. Sorfleet said EVR has already begun an environmental assessment before using the land and would be required to complete another assessment at the end of the tenancy.

“This will ensure that any contamination, should anything occur, would be remediated by the tenant,” he said.

Councillor Amy Cardozo asked what the company’s long term plan was if parking was already tight.

Sorfleet said the temporary lease was meant to provide a cushion during the transition period rather than replace permanent parking.

“My understanding is this is effectively [overflow] parking as they move people into the new building and start to accommodate or start to develop new habits,” he said. “So they’re not sure if they have enough and they want a little bit extra to pad it.”

He added that the new EVR building already has enough parking to meet district bylaw requirements and that the company has also acquired 2400 Middletown Place and added parking there.

Councillor Jason Christensen said he supported the short term arrangement and asked about the district’s vision for the land. Sorfleet said the property is still expected to serve future industrial development goals, though not within the next six months.

“There is the intent to develop it industrially in the future,” he said, adding that the parcel is also currently used for millings storage, heavy project equipment and community trail access.

Mayor David Wilks said he was comfortable with the lease in the short term, but voiced concern about adding more company vehicles to a lot that could otherwise support personal vehicle parking.

“The only concern I have is I’m OK [with it] for right now, but if they utilise any more of that parking lot for company vehicles that just hinders the amount of personal vehicles that really are being used to park there,” Wilks said.

He suggested that if parking pressures persist, bus transport could help reduce the number of vehicles being driven in from Fernie.

The issue drew another question during public question period from a resident who said her husband works at Komatsu and has already noticed traffic problems in the area, particularly around shift change. Sorfleet confirmed the temporary lot would function as a standard parking area with people arriving and leaving the building.

“That is more traffic,” the resident responded.

Wilks said he had already raised traffic signal concerns with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit and that the ministry had indicated it would look at signalling in the area.

Council approved the lease subject to the statutory notification requirements in the Community Charter.