At an in camera session held last week, council met with local real estate and development moguls to address their concerns that there is not enough tourist accommodation around Big Beach, Ucluelet’s community beach park.
With 130 units at Black Rock, plus 88 more recently rezoned on Lot 16, and the 18 Primera units now inevitably slated to go Resort Condo, that makes “only 236 units of nightly-rental accommodation within spitting distance of Ukee’s community centre,” developers said.
Because the area is zoned tourist commercial, the moguls argued, the district should pack it with tourists, tourists, and more tourists, thereby leading to jobs, jobs and more jobs for the Ukee residents who will be camping in the bush nearby.
Council salivated at the prospect, but was at a loss as to where to put the extra rooms until planning staff floated the idea of a water-borne hotel. “We could put a ship in the middle of Big Beach bay, just like the Canadian Princess,” said a staff member. In fact, the CAO had already sourced out a “modest-sized” cruise liner slated for retirement. The Royal Urban Density sports 550 cabins from first to third class, along with a pool, spa, two restaurants and a casino, and is available, coincidentally, for almost exactly the amount of DCC charges the district currently has on hand.
The ship used to make the Vancouver–Alaska run until supplanted by the newer, larger cruise ships. “It’s the perfect size for Big Beach,” said a council member.
“It’s diverse — I like it,” said the mayor.
“Best thing is,” a developer added, “it’s not within district boundaries — no community input required!”
“Not that that would have made any difference,” the mayor joked. “Done and done!”
The installation should take place next spring, a couple of weeks before the the public announcement of the decision.
