The NOTL Local welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via our website at notllocal.com. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication)
I have been following the ongoing meetings/coverage regarding the Parliament Oak Property at 325 King Street.
We are a living heritage community. We need all of the councillors, staff, residents and invested businesses to protect and preserve its core historic identity for now and the future. Many talk about their priority to protect and preserve NOTL so now is the time to do it.
Please keep focused on the zoning to remain as institutional so the town can continue to properly manage and control its usage now and for the future.
I watched with great interest and great concern the June 11 committee of the whole meeting. I agree with the many points against this rezoning proposal as the 129-room Five Star Hotel is simply not needed, is not a fit and poses serious long term implications.
It is surrounded by residential and park space and for the many reasons already thoroughly stated. The community, residents and existing tourism partners deserve better. It was zoned Industrial for good reasons and needs to be protected through that zoning.
My comments and questions are posed to align with proper tourism management that will benefit all.
Directly related to all these discussions, besides the Official Plan, are two important and pertinent master plans (transportation and tourism) that have not been finalized, and to my understanding are being reviewed with further input given by council to the staff, the consultants and committees.
Why spend money and time and not have them part of this very important process on this rezoning?
The Tourism Master Plan was referenced on June 11t, so I have sourced the DRAFT Executive Summary (through the Tourism Committee) and used it as one of my references. As this issue is directly-tourism related, the plan is important to the input and everyone should be referencing the same information.
NOTE: My understanding is that The Tourism Master Plan is still a draft document that has not been passed by council and that it was referred back to Staff with further questions and comments in the Spring 2024.
The recent, very detailed overview by resident and retired engineer Ron Simkus clearly reflects many facts that need to be considered in making the proper decision on this rezoning issue. This information is part of Ron's most recent information in his regular newsletters.
My key points/comments fall under the theme of proper tourism management, which is essential for a living heritage community while planning for continued economic progress
I was pleased to see that the plan was determined to manage sustainable tourism with the word management used throughout the Tourism Plan. Good management is needed to proceed with any strategies/action plan. A key point was that residents do not want more tourists.
1. Hotel Room Shortage/Range of Accommodations
It was noted in the June 11 meeting that there are other hotels approved or in the works but no one mentioned the number or timing of these pending rooms. What is the full inventory of accommodation rooms including all the communities of NOTL? Could this number possibly fill or surpass the so-called gap in rooms mentioned that is proposed by this one, new proposed hotel?
Does this room inventory include the number of rooms that are not considered “hotel” rooms but are accommodation rooms that our many visitors also choose to stay in: Inns, Bed & Breakfasts, Air B&B, short& long term rentals, etc?
A Five Star Hotel has specific criteria for it to be designated. Does the criteria (outlined in Simkus document) create additional challenges not mentioned so far? (More staff needed therefore additional parking, etc)
2. Visitor Demographics
One proposed Five Star Hotel is not the answer to encouraging our many visitors to stay longer or spend more money. While high end visitors are one of our target demographics for our visitors to Town, please do not forget the larger percentage of travellers who do come to NOTL, stay longer, spend money and search for affordable/good value accommodation. In staying longer, the visitor does experience more of the many experiences in our Town. Not everyone who wants to enjoy our Town can afford a Five Star Hotel or higher end hotel. These same visitors do attend and support our diverse tourism experiences (restaurants, retail, Shaw, Museum, arts & culture, agriculturally based businesses like wineries, markets & horticultural, historic sites, festivals, outdoor ecotourism/non-motorized water sports, etc.)
I am very proud of the existing high end hotels that have worked hard to build their businesses (year round) with many amenities (various dining choices, spas, swimming pools etc. and employ many people (career hospitality people, students, co-ops, retirees, part time and full time). Adding another high end hotel amid existing, pending and proposed accommodations only works against proper tourism management.
3. Traffic, Parking, Congestion
The flow of our visitors is currently spread out as people choose various accommodation options throughout not only Old Town but our other villages. Congestion, parking, and traffic flow will continue to be assisted/alleviated by the planning/management of accommodation options spread out to other locations. Many people enjoy the smaller, more intimate accommodation options in the rural areas while enjoying the countryside settings. Many take advantage of leaving their cars at these settings/or designated spots (the Town’s Park and Pedal initiative) and use the bicycle paths to get into Town.
Putting the one new proposed large hotel in the midst of a key artery into Old Town will do just the opposite. It will only add to these ongoing challenges in the peak season and as noted by many, play havoc with the surrounding residential areas. Let’s not undo decades of work by many people, committees and former councils by trying to put an ill fitted proposal where it does not belong.
Over the years, I have worked with many concerned people on various committees (tourism, winery, transportation, etc.) where we have battled the challenges of traffic flow, congestion, parking, safety, alternate routes into town etc. and good progress has been made. Please don’t take a step backwards.
4. Year round tourism
One solution to maximize the already major commitment made by existing hotels, Inns, restaurants, retail shops, wedding venues, B&Bs, Air B&Bs, short term rentals, wineries, cultural facilities (Shaw, Museum, Fort George, Art Galleries etc.) to be sustainable is to pay attention to seasonal or year round tourism. Many of us have worked on the extended visitation season which was has been quite successful up to now. I was pleased over the years to work with others to promote not only the shoulder seasons but successfully bring more tourists to town in the winter. Great examples of partnerships creating joint promotions with wineries, restaurants, hotels such as the Shaw Winter Performances, the Candlelight Stroll, the Santa Claus Parade, Icewine Festival, February’s Wine and Chocolate, the Pillar and Post Garden etc. –One of the most recent great examples is the Pillar and Post Garden whose year round use of their green space opposite the hotel has drawn many visitors and locals for garden/hospitality/skating rink/food and wine tastings series, etc. It has encouraged both hotel guests and day visitors to come when the temperature normally would keep them indoors or not travelling at all.
Previously our many congestion problems were due to the crammed shorter tourist season of April-September. We have succeeded in creating the off season visitations by managing and sharing the seasonal attributes of Autumn and Winter, not just the perceived prime time. Many people were glad to come when they could enjoy the more serene aspects of the off seasons. More of our tourism partners are open and active throughout the full year. Managing year round tourism would and does assist our economy to support the capital investments already made and bring a stronger teturn on investment (ROI).
Thank you in advance for reading and considering my comments on this extremely important issue.
Debi Pratt
NOTL
