The development permit for the Bear Hills Wellness Centre was back before Town of Bashaw council on March 14.
Proposed at the current Bashaw Retreat Centre, the project would partner with regional First Nations and provide a variety of community wellness services.
A development permit was originally submitted for the project during the summer of 2021, which was initially denied by the council at the time.
Resubmitted Jan. 10, 2022, the new permit has yet to be approved by council due to the development authority (the town) deeming the application incomplete on four successive times.
According to the council request for decision (RCD) in the March 14 meeting package, updates to the permit had been submitted to the town on Jan. 11, Jan. 19, Feb. 10, and Feb. 24.
Due to the development authority repeatedly finding the updated applications incomplete, Mayor McDonald called a special meeting of council on March 1 where administration was directed to produce a report of the issues with the permit.
According to the RCD prepared by chief administrative officer Theresa Fuller, the permits continue to lack a confirmation of the exact use of the site, the number of beds in the facility, the age of the guests, a business plan and several other notable items.
CAO Fuller did note that this permit application is being treated “as a new application” and that the previous application has no bearing on what is happening now.
“We’re looking at this application for what we’ve received,” said Fuller.
To help with the planning of the of the application on the town’s end, the Town of Bashaw has secured the services of Elizabeth Armitage, a registered professional planner, to provide advice to administration and council going forward with this application.
“Administration has also researched similar facilities located in similar sized municipalities in Alberta,” wrote Fuller, in the RCD.
“The research has determined that the level of detail the town is requesting be submitted to support this Bear Hills Family Wellness Centre development permit is consistent with standard requirements throughout Alberta.”
The RCD also notes that the applicant requested residents provide feedback to the town about the project; as of March 3 the town had received 22 comments from community members, of which three were in support and 19 were against the proposed facility.
Coun. Jackie Northey made three motions regarding the permit application at the meeting.
First, administration was directed to request Bear Hills Family Wellness Centre submit the additional information by May 9, 2022, allowing council to make an informed decision on the project.
Two, Northey moved that the town request Bear Hills Family Wellness Centre and Young Spirit Winds engage with the town, a third party and a Maskwacis Elder “in the spirit of reconciliation.”
Three, Northey moved that upon receipt of the completed information council consider holding a community information session held jointly with Maskwacis.
A special meeting was held March 15 to go over the letter being sent to the Bear Hills Wellness Centre developers.
The letter was subsequently approved and signed by council in a motion by Coun. Northey.
Bear Hills Wellness Centre declined comment for this story.