Kimberley’s Monday night council meeting came with extra salt as members grilled each other on their beef with drive-through regulations in the community.
Council members discussed a proposed framework titled “Regulatory Options for Future Drive-Through and Gas Station Developments” that could impose restrictions on future businesses in Kimberley.
Most of the discussion focused on drive-through businesses in particular.
Councilor Woody Maguire, who voted in favour of more restrictive regulations, says he wants to see Kimberley keep its existing aesthetic.
“Our town is unique – we’re not a pit stop and we’re not on any major highway. We have something special here and my aim is to embrace that charm and stay engaged and connected with the community,” said Maguire.
“I think drive-throughs favour large corporations with major brand recognition, huge marketing budgets and supply chains designed for high-volume fast service models. Restricting drive-throughs gives our local restaurants a real opportunity to compete with these types of businesses.”
Councilor Sue Cairns, who also voted for a more restrictive approach, says Kimberley should focus on attracting investment from developers who align with the community’s values.
“Investors want clarity and certainty about where we’re going. Communities today attract with their walkability and bike-ability,” said Cairns.
“Many here have chosen Kimberley specifically for its great trails and seeking a safe city to commute with bikes and walking.”
Councillor Jason McBain voted to have some restrictions but wanted to leave room for future proposals on a case-by-case basis.
“A new type of development is most likely going to be a big corporation or a big box store, which I am not really in support of, but it’s not a 100 per cent certainty,” said McBain.
“I would like to have as much flexibility as possible in case there is a business out there that fits into this but still meets the ideological views we have.”
Mayor Don McCormick voted to have some restrictions, with room for flexibility.
McCormick says Kimberley should not have blanket policies against business types in the community.
“We have just under a billion dollars in assets that we have to maintain. It’s going to require us to spend $15 million a year in annual maintenance and we’re currently spending six to eight million – less than half of what we need to maintain what we already have,” said McCormick.
“The bottom line is, from an overall fiscal management point of view, I don’t think we can afford to restrict anything. We have flexibility and balance on things that come to us.”
McCormick says Kimberley’s tourism sector relies on a variety of businesses to keep and attract visitors.
“Tourism is our single economic driver in town. Without that healthy tourism, our entire business community is at risk. Because people have to stay in Cranbrook, they spend their money there on all kinds of services,” said McCormick.
“From a commercial development point of view, we need to bring in as many of those services as we possibly can to keep people here.”
The vote concluded with five votes against the proposed flexible restrictions, with Mayor McCormick and Councillor McBain being the two votes in favour.
Councillor Sandra Roberts voted against the proposal in general because she feels business types should not be restricted before hearing their proposal.
“If you set up a business that people want to go to, that business will survive and if people don’t want to go there, it won’t survive. That’s the nature of business, it will settle itself where it can exist,” said Roberts.
“Many business owners are coming from afar and have a certain plan in place on how they can build a business. Let’s not tie two hands behind our backs. Let’s give them an opportunity to see what the community is like and plant a business here that will meet the needs of our community and not have to be so restricted that they can’t even get going.”
The document included a more restrictive option, which could fully ban drive-thru services in Kimberley, which was the winning option with a 4-3 vote in favour.
City staff will now take the council’s decision and create a draft policy that could add drive-throughs to the list of prohibited property uses in the community.
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