CANMORE – A Nordic spa owned by Basecamp Resorts at the entrance to Silvertip will move forward, but with a slightly altered development permit for construction.
Canmore’s Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) amended aspects of Basecamp’s future Nordic spa after an appeal was brought forward by Stone Creek Resorts – the owner of Silvertip Resort.
The quasi-judicial appeal board will require Basecamp to build or pay for a pathway as part of off-site requirements, provide an access easement for the pathway, a fence screened by landscaping along Silvertip Trail and the emergency access only permitted for emergency vehicles.
The board also determined the spa is only allowed for hotel guests, but if Basecamp wanted to allow the general public to use it, an additional development permit would be needed.
“The board acknowledges that accessory use is discretionary. The board finds that a spa in this location is appropriate and is consistent with the neighbourhood,” stated the decision. “In particular, a spa is a typical use with a hotel and fits with the existing hotel use.”
The six-page board decision notes since the development is in the Silvertip direct control district – which is now part of the Silvertip area structure plan – it had to follow the specific conditions outlined for the area.
It found the development permit issued by the Town aligned with council direction and the Municipal Development Plan in needing Basecamp to provide a pedestrian and cycling connection “to increase connectivity between neighbourhoods, the Town Centre and other commercial areas.”
The board highlighted the permit also aligned with the Integrated Transportation Plan and the Engineering Design and Construction Guidelines. It also determined the road closure wasn’t aligned with the Municipal Government Act due to the road continuing to be open to vehicles.
Birol Fisekci, president of real estate for Basecamp, said they were happy with the outcome and are eager to move forward with construction. He said they aim to have the Nordic spa – which will be the first in Canmore – open in late summer or early fall 2025.
“I think all those conditions lend themselves nicely to creating a great experience for Canmore and that’s a key is ultimately we all want the same thing,” he said. “We want to create special places for Canmore. I think we’re able to accomplish that.”
He said discussions with the Town and Stone Creek were collaborative, with much ironed out during discussions in the leadup and in between hearings.
With an SDAB decision now out, he said the next step is for Basecamp and the Town to meet to negotiate terms of the development permit and for the two parties to meet in parallel with Stone Creek on the screening provision and pathway design.
“A lot of it has been worked out by virtue of our previous meetings,” Fisekci said.
The appeal board saga had two of the largest land developers in Canmore face off at the Town’s quasi-judicial board in meetings on April 18 and May 9 after Stone Creek filed its opposition on March 22.
The plans had been approved by Canmore’s planning commission to add four accessory buildings and multiple outdoor hot and cold pools with outdoor seating areas. The existing site is the former 99-unit Holiday Inn – now called MTN House Hotel – and includes Rhythm and Howl restaurant.
Stone Creek’s appeal outlined its belief the development officer didn’t follow council direction and argued the pathway impacted pathway impacting the vehicle lane for the entrance to Silvertip. It also stated more landscaping was needed and only hotel guests should use the Nordic spa.
The two sides attempted multiple compromises, including the day of the second SDAB hearing, but were unable to come to a result.
While Stone Creek said it was supportive of the Nordic spa, it raised concerns about the entrance to the Silvertip area, particularly as growth is expected to happen in the coming years.
As part of the Silvertip ASP, 352 residential units have been completed, but there are still 50 to go. In addtion, the plan includes 850 employee units and 1,209 resort accommodation units.
“This will continue to be a very important entrance to us in perpetuity. … We would like to maintain the access and have a beautiful access way,” said Karin Finley, Stone Creek’s senior vice president of resort development at the May 9 hearing.
The area of land has had several minor variances approved by the Canmore Planning Commission in the last 12 months. However, the development authority for the direct control district was switched by council earlier this year from planning commission to the Town’s development officer on the file.
Work, such as grading and stripping, has been taking place at the site and a large overhaul of the hotel has also been done.
Fisekci said at the May 9 hearing the Nordic spa and MTN House are meant to be a “flagship” for the company and the company has attempted several different options to compromise.
The permit for the Nordic spa outlines it would only be for hotel guests, but a new development permit could be filed if a change was sought by Basecamp.
Fisekci said Basecamp will likely request that in the future, but there’s no timeline.
“We do have periods of time where the hotel will not be fully busy … but we would like to open the opportunity for Canmorites to come in and enjoy the spa,” he said. “Stone Creek said at the hearings they have no opposition to this. The concern for Stone Creek, and ourselves, is how people get there because we don’t have parking capacity for people to drive their vehicles to the spot.”
He said due to the connectivity in Canmore of walking, cycling and public transit, there are options other than vehicles for people to use.
“With our spa model, we really want to democratize Nordic spas because it’s about the health factor,” Fisekci said. "It’s about creating a healthier or wellness model at a more affordable rate."
“From a financial perspective, we don’t need it. If the Town says ‘this is only going to be an accessory to the hotel’, that’s OK. If there’s a world where Canmorites want to have access to the Nordic spa, we’re definitely open to having that happen.”
SDAB’s decision can be appealed within 30 days of it being issued May 24.
