Monthly Archives: August 2012

Cottonwoods Campground sold to a land developer

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Shuswap Environmental Action Society

Media Release, August 28, 2012

 Cottonwoods Campground sold to a land developer

“Our organization was shocked to learn that the Cottonwoods Campground property has been sold through the courts to a local land developer” said Jim Cooperman, SEAS President.

The Cottonwoods Campground has long been a contentious piece of property.  Approximately seven years ago, the 12-hectare property was acquired by a Kamloops developer who attempted to market it as an RV and condo development known as West Beach Village.

In 2008, SEAS helped lead a massive public protest that resulted in the proposed rezoning being rejected by the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD). The entire community and organizations across the province rallied to support the efforts to oppose the development, which was voted down unanimously by the CSRD board.

Despite the rejection by the regional district, in 2009 the developer began marketing the RV sites without subdivision approval, by attempting to register 199-year leases of small storage sheds. But the scheme was eventually rejected by the court after protracted legal proceedings because the project did not comply with the CSRD bylaws and the leases could not be registered at the Land Title Office.

In fall of 2010, the property fell into insolvency protection. The mortgage company that financed the West Beach development eventually took control of the property. The Court approved the sale on July 11, 2012 and the sale was completed on August 2nd and the new title was finalized in just the past few days.

The community feels strongly about this property because it is immediately adjacent to the Roderick Haig Brown Park, home of the world famous sockeye salmon run.

It is the dream of many to see the Cottonwoods Campground purchased and added to Roderick Haig-Brown Park to provide both a wider area of protection for the fresh water estuary that provides critical rearing habitat for the internationally renown sockeye salmon and with restoration would help provide additional spawning habitat.

July 7, 2012 aerial view of the flooded Cottonwoods Campground         (photo by Darren Van Sprang)

Cooperman explains, “It is obvious that the campground is not suitable for development because of what we witnessed with this year’s high water, which covered at least 1/3 of the property.”

Cottonwoods under water in June, 2012

“The Cottonwood’s property already went through a lengthy and costly rezoning application process, which was wisely turned down by our local government leaders,” said Cooperman. “It would be a significant waste of time and taxpayer’s money to consider another development on this property as it is clear that it would be strongly opposed locally, provincially, nationally and internationally,” he added.

West Beach purchased by developer

August 28, 2012

The North Shuswap lakefront property where Kamloops businessman Mike Rink sought to build an RV resort has been sold to another developer – dashing hopes from some community members that it can be become provincial parkland.
Court documents show Cottonwoods Campground, renamed West Beach by Rink, was sold this month to a numbered company owned by Greg Darroch, an Interior developer who has done other Shuswap projects and is also involved in real estate in Las Vegas.
The property sold for $17.9 million, leaving Mission Creek Mortgage Ltd. out about $3 million in loans and interest payments it made to Rink’s companies to develop a 160-unit RV park offering 199-year leases.
But those plans fell apart when Rink’s companies entered creditor protection more than two years ago. Mission Creek took over the property from Rink after B.C. Supreme Court ruled the plans didn’t fit with Columbia Shuswap Regional District zoning.
Darroch, who lives in Coldstream, could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.
A coalition of Shuswap groups held a benefit in April to kickstart efforts to raise money privately to purchase property for parkland. That included talks with land trusts and government officials.
The campground continued to operate under Mission Creek through a receiver-manager after Rink lost control earlier this year.
“We were just beginning to look at ways to raise money,” said local conservationist Jim Cooperman, who led resistance against earlier efforts to rezone the property for a condominium and marina project.
Cooperman said he fears the new ownership will bring new development plans to a parcel that is beside the mouth of the Adams River and its renowned salmon run.
“It’s obvious a campground business can’t support a mortgage of that amount of money. The only way to realize that amount of money is to do some sort of development.”
Documents from the land title registry show the numbered company took out a new mortgage from Mission Creek to purchase the land.
Dave Cunliffe, another Shuswap developer and president of the North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce, said Darroch is a skilled developer with experience in the Shuswap and elsewhere. Among his Shuswap projects is the Saratoga condominium complex.
“We welcome well-thought-out, orderly development on the North Shuswap. “It definitely helps boost our economy. We’re waiting with great expectations to hear plans Greg has for the property.”
While the land is now in the hands of the numbered company, it remains part of a legal challenge by contractors who worked at West Beach and are owed $750,000. Those include supply and electrical contractors.
Kamloops lawyer David McMillan, who represents those contractors, said a decision is expected later this year whether his clients have priority to funds set aside under the Builders Lien Act.
“The lien claimants are not yet dead and buried,” McMillan said.
Cooperman said parkland proponents won’t give up.
“The most suitable use is to be part of the (Roderick Haig-Brown) park,” he said.

Copyright 2012 Glacier Media Inc.

Developer moving ahead on West Beach

August 29, 2012

By CAM FORTEMS
Daily News Staff Reporter
A B.C. businessman who purchased financially troubled West Beach in the North Shuswap said he has a “solid business plan” to develop the property.

But Greg Darroch said he wants to meet with community members and government officials over the coming months before publicly unveiling plans.

“I want to put together a proposal that allays the concerns of the community and environment,” he said Wednesday. “That’s a really sensitive site.”

A numbered company controlled by Darroch purchased the property from a mortgage firm this month for $17.9-million. The property, operated as Cottonwood Campground for decades, was purchased by Kamloops developer Mike Rink a few years ago.

B.C. Supreme Court awarded the property to Mission Creek Mortgage this year after more than $20 million in debts could not be paid.

Darroch said he is “fact finding” with a number of agencies about the potential for the land, which he believes will continue with an RV focus.

Rink’s plan to sell 199-year leases with an associated storage shed was rejected by a B.C. Supreme Court justice. But several million dollars in infrastructure were put in place prior to the ruling.

“My focus is to stick with family camping and enjoyment of the area,” Darroch said, adding that won’t include a condominium project.

“There’s RVs now. To change that will be tough. You need to keep it environmentally friendly.”

Darroch said he wants to bring the property forward to Columbia Shuswap Regional District for a possible rezoning sometime in the fall.

Another local interest group, Adams River Salmon Society, is pushing for the province or federal government to intervene and purchase the parcel beside the river and its salmon run. Other residents, including Jim Cooperman, are trying to raise money privately to purchase the property.

Both say the parcel should be added to neighbouring Roderick Haig-Brown provincial park.

“I’d like to see all the different groups work toward that goal,” said salmon society president Darlene McBain.