The room was already bustling with dozens of members of the public at the beginning of the first session, and the stream of people was steady.
The multi-phased development is being proposed for town lands located adjacent to the Hinton Golf Course. The concept of Bliss of Hinton is a privately-operated, integrated experiential learning and resort development.
It is planned to feature a resort hotel and convention centre, a unique learning and research organization, plus retail as well as food and beverage offerings.
The public feedback was the next step after town council gave a first reading to amendments to the municipal development plan and the land use bylaw back in November. Council has second and third readings on its agenda for Jan. 16.
A public hearing was delayed from December to allow the Surrey, B.C.-based developer more time to offer information widely, receive residents’ feedback and answer their questions. That hearing is also scheduled for the same day.
As grand as the idea is, Hinton Golf Club’s general manager Kyle Crawford doesn’t think it has been fully thought through. In his opinion, it will be to the detriment of the nearly 200-member golf course.
“The town gave PAR999 a piece of land that's probably in the worst spot that you could probably put a development in terms of how the golf course functions,” he said.
“The way it stands right now, there's just way too many safety concerns and too many routing issues that would make this golf course a viable option for people. I think we would get into where people would play this golf course once and then never return because it's just funky.”
He still hopes that the design will change at some point, saying the whole idea around Bliss of Hinton was to enhance the current 18-hole golf course and the land surrounding it.
The Hinton Golf Course was originally happy after PAR999 was brought onto the field. The developer’s successful proposal had a budget of $35 million. Crawford initially thought the project would mean some upgrades to the golf course property, which would help sustain it for the future.
He has since voiced his concerns to both the Town of Hinton and PAR999.
“We knew that they wanted that section of land, and we let them know that this probably isn't the best area,” he said.
“Two years down the road, now they're trying to rezone the recreational land into commercial, and it seems like the golf course is an afterthought. I think they need to go back to the drawing board and relook at this. I definitely think the development is a win-win for the town of Hinton.”
Amir Hassan, CEO of the Centre for Hospitality Studies and Research, was unavailable to comment on the project before the Fitzhugh’s deadline.
