The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors have given first and second reading to a proposed zoning bylaw that will allow for a planned development on the north end of Columbia Lake.

The still unnamed subdivision-style development would be on the northwest corner of the lake, near Columere, and would encompass 17 lots with single family residences on 17.84 acres.

“It will have lake access, but not lake frontage. They are all really nice view lots, looking across to Lot 48,” said developer Dave Rae. “Columbia Lake is great. It’s warmer and bigger than Lake Windermere and it has only a fraction of the number of boats that Lake Windermere has.”

Rae said the development will have water and sewer systems and, in terms of driving, is not really all that far from the crossroads outside of Invermere.

“We want to start clearing the roads this summer and fall,” said Rae, adding that the necessary geotechnical reports are already done.

A public hearing on the proposed bylaw will be held at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort on Thursday, May 7th at 7 p.m.

The bylaw would change the zoning from commercial to residential and would permit up to 25 single family residential parcels on the land, although Rae is only planning for 17. The first and second reading of the bylaw came during the RDEK board of directors Friday, April 10th meeting.