The groundwork continues on a future housing and commercial space in the heart of Harrison Hot Springs.
During a relatively brief meeting of the Harrison Hot Springs village council on Monday, June 2, council approved another revision to an ongoing project at 511 Lillooet Ave. – the former home of the Bungalow Motel.
The previous iteration called for a zebra crosswalk at Lillooet Avenue, but the revisions approved on Monday are asking for the crosswalk to be installed on Spruce Street on the other side of the property. According t o a report from village planning consultant Ken Cossey, Lillooet Avenue – much like Hot Springs Road – falls under the jurisdiction of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Transit, and the ministry does not support a zebra crosswalk at that location.
The Lillooet Avenue development has been the subject of discussion among residents and public officials since at least 2021. The future structure required a bylaw amendment due to an increased floor area ratio, lot coverage and building height. This included the aforementioned crosswalk, a $30,000 contribution to community amendments, a carbon footprint report at a tree retention agreement.
511 Lillooet Ave. was last brought up in council last March, when council approved the final reading of the zooming amendment bylaw.
The former home of the Bungalow Motel is the future site of 80 residential units, commercial property, a common amenities area and a two-storey parkade.
In other council business:
- Council approved funding for the following organizations through the Grants to Groups program:
- Agassiz Baseball Association – $800
- Agassiz-Harrison Community Services – $1250
- AHA Swim Club – $800
- Fraser Valley Paddling Club – $1250
- Harrison Community Garden – $750
- Harrison Hot Springs Elementary School PAC – $800
- Hope Mountain Centre for Outdoor Learning: $750
- Kent Harrison Arts Council: $1,250
- Council approved Mayor Fred Talen as the council's liaison to the Agassiz-Harrison Community Services board of directors
- Council approved the terms of reference for the village's Age-Friendly Committee.
- Council approved the 2024 statement of financial information.
The next regular Harrison Hot Springs Village Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16, at 5:30 p.m. at Memorial Hall (290 Esplanade Ave.).
Online attendance is also available via Zoom; those interested can register through harrisonhotsprings.ca. Video recordings of the meetings will be archived on the village’s YouTube page.
