The Blue Mountains council wants to take another look at a Tyrolean Village servicing project that has been on hold since 2023.
At its meeting on Oct. 21, council voted in favour of asking staff for an update on the phase two of the Tyrolean Village watermain replacement and wastewater servicing project.
David Finbow, representing Tyrolean Resorts 2021 and other local property owners, made a presentation about the project and requested that the town pull the project out of limbo.
“We’re not looking for approval, we just want (the project) to be considered as part of the budget process,” Finbow said. “I recognize there needs to be a deeper dive on this project through the budget process.”
In 2022, the town completed phase 1 of the project to upgrade water infrastructure in the area and add sewage services. In 2023, the town placed phase two of the project on hold.
In his presentation, Finbow said there are concerns with septic systems in the areas that are currently in use. He also said that two blocks of property on the road are now slated for 48 new units that would “bear the brunt of the costs” of the work.
Finbow also said bringing sewage services to homes in the area would open up the opportunity for new units of employee housing. He said that a number of homes in the area are currently lawful non-conforming/grandfathered short-term accommodations.
Finbow said the current short-term rentals in the area are not able to switch to employee housing because they would lose their grandfathered short-term rental status because they don’t have full municipal services. If services were available, they could become employee housing without the loss of the short-term rental designation.
In response to Finbow’s presentation, town staff said phase two of the project is not on the current budget horizon for 2025.
Alan Pacheco, the town’s director of operations, said engineering work and updates are required for the project.
“There is some work that needs to be done to get it where we would have a suitable figure,” he said.
An initial resolution from council would have seen the project included in the draft 2025 budget, however, staff suggested that council instead pass a resolution requesting a report and update about the status of the project.
“I would definitely encourage the deeper dive,” said CAO Shawn Everitt, who said it would be a benefit to look at the work that had been previously done on the project.
The CAO noted that, at the time the project was placed on hold, there were questions about affordability, front-ending of the finances and conditions that would be needed for the project to proceed. He said it was a good idea for a complete review of the situation.
Members of council agreed.
“I think we need staff to come back with a report,” said Mayor Andrea Matrosovs, noting that the current status of the project “didn’t fit” with including it in the budget process without more background information.
Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting a full report on the project.
