Alexander Leach, Editor
Editor’s note: The Whitewater news is owned by Joe Kowalski and printed out of River Run rafting and Wilderness Tours.
The Council of Whitewater Region heard Joe Kowalsi, owner of Wilderness Tours, outline his plan for a new recreational vehicle development on the old Wilderness Tours side.
He moved rafting operation moved to the River run property on Grant Settlement Roads, and proposed to repurpose their rafting operation at 514 Rafting Road.
“With Covid I was quite depressed.” Kowalski said, but indicated that the pandemic also led to more people wanting to move to rural areas.
“We are seeing something we have not seen in a century, where people left the land for the city, and with covid, it’s happening in reverse.” Kowalski said. “They want to come to the rural area, and we at Whitewater Region are well-placed.”
He proprosed repurposing the property as an RV park. We are proposing that the studies required are Engineering studies.
Kowalski brought Brian Whitehead to explain that the land contains 550 units, and ‘room for more’ contains septic and water systems, but any future properties would require studies for any expansion.
“What it’s been marketed as is for park-model homes.” said Whitehead. “What he’s looking for is council’s “support for this development concept.”
According to Mayor Moore, the matter would be decided in a later meeting.
“We will not be voting on the resolution this evening.” he said. This will now go to our staff.”
Questions were then taken. Councillor Mackay asked: “If you have 300 lots, 3 people per lot, is 900, so wouldn’t you have to put in a sewer plant? What will you do with all that effluent?”
“Obviously there were be engineering.” Kowalski said. “This would be an RV park, what will happen there will be engineers to do those calculations. It is much less than a normal home that you will have in Cobden”
“We already have one sewage lagoon on the property.” Kowalski added. “My guess is that it will require another lagoon system.”
The properties will be seasonal and not year-round.
The mayor thanked Kowalski for the presentation. The CAO said it will likely be addressed at the next session.
Kowalski ended with approval of the Council’s decision.
“I am very satisfied.”
