By Steve Hubrecht
A proposed ‘glamping’ campground and nature resort near Wilmer drew plenty of interest during a public hearing last week.
About 50 valley residents — most from Wilmer but a few from other parts of the Columbia Valley — attended the hearing held at the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce building on Wednesday, April 30. They voiced opinions both against and in favour of the project.
As reported last month in the Pioneer, a local couple hopes to turn their property into a campground that would house visitors in cottages, seasonal ‘glamping’ (glamorous camping) structures, prospector-style tents, and stationary recreational vehicles (RVs) on a 42.5 acre (17 hectare) lot on Westside Road next to the Columbia River wetlands. There will also be a trail network with viewing platforms overlooking the wetlands.
The project would be capped at a maximum of 90 accommodation units. But at the public hearing the property owners — Marjie and Kerry Widmer — explained they intend to start with two camping units at first, then four, and build slowly from there over many years.
A majority of hearing attendees were against the project, but many people in the crowd supported it too. Those opposed cited concerns about impacts on the wetlands, impacts on wildlife (badgers, elk, and migratory birds got particular mention), other environmental impacts, the potential for increased traffic on Westside Road and associated safety issues, the social impacts of increased tourism, and worries about campers increasing wildfire risk.
Project supporters outlined economic benefits the project might bring, the need for more tourist accommodation (and specifically for more campgrounds) in the Columbia Valley, a reduced wildfire risk from having the property better kept, and the education that the campground could foster as a nature resort.
On increased traffic, one Wilmer resident at the hearing said “currently that road (Westside Road between Invermere and Wilmer) is terrifying for pedestrians or cyclists. If you add campers … they will want to walk (along the road) … I foresee deaths.”
Others spoke about campers going into the wetlands or being careless with cigarettes and fireworks (and starting fires). Development consultant Richard Haworth was at the hearing representing the Widmers. “I disagree that it will be people who don’t respect nature (staying at the campground). It will be people there because they like nature … it’s not going to be party central … it’s a getaway in nature,” said Haworth.
Another hearing attendee expressed skepticism about efforts to gauge the project’s ecological impact, calling it a “next-to-nothing environmental assessment … spending two days walking the property looking for badger holes is not enough”. Not finding badger holes doesn’t necessarily mean the critters don’t use the area, and that it’s not critical habitat, added another resident.
Another attendee commented: “This is setting a standard going forward not just for this property, but for other properties nearby … how much growth do we really want right next to our wetlands?”
Prospector tent
SCREENSHOT
Local resident Tracy Flynn expressed opposition to the project because of the process and timeline – outlining that to be properly informed on the issue, she had to spend many hours poring through background plans and documents that were dozens of pages in length.
Most residents don’t have time to do so, she said, adding the RDEK should “give us the time and respect to research it … that didn’t happen.”
Flynn also noted that Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Area F and Area G Advisory Planning Commission (APC) was unanimously against the project. In reply, RDEK planner Krista Gilbert explained the advisory commission is comprised of local volunteers, and is meant to give input, but “they’re not the decision makers.”
On the other hand, Invermere resident Louise Helmer said she initially had some concerns about the project, but then walked the land with owner Marjie Widmer.
“We have incredible beauty (in the Columbia Valley). We can’t be selfish. We have to share it with others for their spiritual, mental and physical health,” said Helmer, adding she believes this campground could do that for visitors. Helmer said the land has been in the Statham family (Statham is Marjie’s maiden name) for generations, and the family will continue to be responsible stewards.
Helmer’s sentiments were echoed by Stan Weiler, who lives across the road. “You need to walk the property to understand it … you’ll have a whole new perspective once you do,” said Weiler, adding that having a campground (and revenue from it) would allow the Widmers to better clean up the brush on the property, thereby decreasing wildfire risk.
Local resident Colleen Booth referenced the Widmer’s desire to start small, with just two glamping sites. The maximum of 90 sites won’t be reached for decades, said Booth. She noted that many visitors for the upcoming Wings over the Rockies festival are having trouble finding accommodation. They prefer nature-based options and “this could be a perfect solution.”
Marjie said she’s “had big bucks offered to me” to sell the land to someone who would put up a conventional development or build a large second home, but that she’d much rather turn the property into a campground at lower profit.
“I love that land and I will do my best for it,” she said. “If this was about profit, if we wanted to make dollars off the land, we would’ve sold it years ago. We just want to be able to make a living,” added her husband Kerry. He said that in terms of the campground increasing traffic, backcountry campers and partiers headed to nearby Lake Enid make “more traffic there in one weekend than you’d get in a full week at our campground.”
Several audience members expressed mixed feelings saying they were neither fully for nor fully against the proposal.
“We don’t want to become overrun with tourists. That’s what makes Wilmer special. But families need to be able to live on the land … what do we want for our kids and grandkids, and how they live on the land?” pondered one Wilmer resident.
Gilbert said that in addition to comments at the hearing, the RDEK received 60 letters on the project – 18 in support of it, or conditionally in support of it (if, for instance, the number of camping sites is reduced), and 42 in opposition or raising concerns about it.
Stationary RV
SCREENSHOT
