Fernie City Council has approved a bylaw to rezone a large parcel of land that was originally earmarked for a golf course.
The Montane Overall Zoning Bylaw amendment changed several areas within that parcel, allowing for the future development of homes and businesses.
“The zoning was being changed in a piecemeal format and council asked to have that zoning done altogether, so there was a plan moving forward,” said Derek Cimolini, Fernie’s Manager of Planning.
“It cues up the Montane area for future development without a golf course and instead focuses on trails and outdoor recreation as the open space use along with small-scale multi-unit housing.”
The new zoning amendment will also allow the developer to subdivide.
“There’s a lot of land there, so it’s not a zoning for the near future,” said Cimolini.
“We will see some subdivisions coming forward in the next few years, but this brings the Montane area forward into the future for the next 20 to 30 years.”
The changes will also make space for a wider variety of housing units.
“If someone were to buy a lot, instead of building a single-family home, they would now have the option to build up to four different dwelling units on that lot,” said Cimolini.
“This will be really important for housing affordability and the amount of housing in Fernie.”
Cimolini says the zoning amendment also leaves space for future commercial development.
“Montane really is going to be developed as a neighbourhood with a bunch of different uses, not just residential,” said Cimolini.
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