New pit stop proposed

Photo: RDOS

There could soon be a place to refuel and grab at bite to eat on Highway 97C, just west of the Pennask Summit.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board will hear a rezoning application Thursday from the Elkhart Lodge, which is seeking to redevelop to open a service station, drive-thru restaurant, commercial card-lock facility and highway maintenance yard.

The property accessible from Elkhart Lake Road held a gas station years ago, but the application seeks to expand the current one hectare commercial zoning to 3.5 ha closer to the highway.

An RDOS staff report called the proposal “not entirely unreasonable” and recommends the board support it.

“While re-establishment of a service station at the site as well as the proposed commercial card-lock will be incongruous with the surrounding pattern of development, they are directly related to serving the needs of Highway 97C users, that may be of benefit to the residents of the RDOS and its member municipalities.”

The rezoning would also allow highway maintenance materials such as sand and salt be stored on site, which highway contractors have reportedly expressed a desire for.

There are some concerns about the site's remote location, over 50 kilometres from the nearest community. To mitigate, it's likely the developer will need to make upgrades to the water and septic systems and provision basic firefighting equipment.

The Elkhart Lodge is currently listed for sale for $799,000.

The RDOS board will discuss the proposal following a public hearing Thursday.