Fall River Inn on the Lake development approved

Inn on the Lake is about to get much bigger. 

On Monday night, North West Community Council approved a development that would allow the Fall River landmark to expand into a six-storey condo with 76 units.

When it is built, it will be the largest building in the area.

Ron and Sue Nelson own Inn on the Lake. The couple have been trying to get this expansion approved for four years.

"We're delighted with the outcome, it's been a very long process." said Ron Nelson

Ten people spoke at the North West Community Council meeting on Monday night. Most of the speakers said they were concerned with the six-storey height, the affordability of the units, how a development this size would affect Lake Thomas, parking and traffic.

Ron Nelson said those concerns have been addressed.

"You have to have that kind of density to begin to pay for the things they're asking for, like left hand turns and advanced sewage treatment systems. You can't get one without the other."

Sandra Carr lives near Inn on the Lake. She said she is not happy the project is moving forward.

"It isn't what we wanted in the village, our vision committee, we wanted three-storey buildings—no big box stores, that type of thing," said Carr.

Evan Henderson said he supports the project.

"I have family in Lake William, I have family in Wellington as well, they're both aging and I can see how important it is to have family around and there is no other place." said Henderson, a Lake Thomas resident.

Any appeal against the community council decision would have to be filed in the next two weeks.

Pending an appeal, Ron Nelson said he hopes to get footings for the project in the ground by fall.