This is the balance of the Town of Golden Regular Open Council meeting agenda items that was held on October 7, 2025.
Bears’ Paw Heights and The Sevens
Developers Gur Manhas and Tony Jaswal (Bears Paw Heights / The Sevens) have formally withdrawn their request to purchase a portion of Town-owned land south of Spruce Drive after strong public opposition. They instead propose to continue Phase 6 entirely within their own property and to fund major water-system upgrades that the Town otherwise would have to finance.
Key Points from the Staff Report:
• Formal withdrawal of the application to purchase municipal land (Lot 1 NEP18094 PID 012-497-533).
Developers will:
• Maintain or create a tree buffer along Spruce Drive.
• Proceed with a smaller-lot subdivision consistent with the restrictive covenant.
• Continue using local builders (as in Phases 1–5).
• Dedicate 2.29 ha of parkland to the Town at subdivision approval.
• Contribute ~$50,000 in traffic-calming measures (crosswalks, curb extensions).
• Through their other project, The Sevens, they plan to fund a $2.057 million upgrade to the South-East Booster Station, a critical piece of water infrastructure nearing the end of its life.
• These actions would address multiple OCP goals—compact growth, smaller homes, added parkland, and local economic activity.
Letter from Developers (Oct 2, 2025)
• Acknowledge community concerns about perceived parkland and confirm respectful withdrawal of the purchase request.
• Commit to proceeding with Phase 6 subdivision consistent with existing zoning and covenants.
• Outline intent to upgrade the SE Booster Station to meet the 25-year growth projections in the 2025 Integrated Water Strategy—contingent on being allowed short-term rental (STR) use within The Sevens.
• Promise traffic-calming curb extensions on Spruce Drive and ongoing investment in Golden’s infrastructure.
Presentation Highlights:
1. Proposed Zoning Amendment (The Sevens)
• Request spot-zoning to permit STRs in The Sevens (R4 zone).
• In return, developers commit to:
• Fund the $2.057 M SE Booster Station upgrade.
• Dedicate parkland, preserve the escarpment trail, and protect existing grave sites by transferring ownership to the Town.
• Maintain a tree buffer along Spruce Drive.
• Construct 16+ R1S lots in Phase 6 (immediately buildable, suite-ready).
2. Water Infrastructure Deficiencies
• The Selkirk Booster Station cannot meet even current demand; it’s short 2.2 L/s with one pump offline and 10 L/s short for 25-year demand.
• Lacks a backup generator and uses an aging manual fire pump, creating risk to water reliability and fire insurance ratings.
• Developers propose to install two new 23 L/s VFD-controlled pumps and a 110 kW propane generator—meeting fire flow, domestic demand, and reliability standards.
3. Benefits to the Town
• Developer-funded solution saves the Town borrowing costs and covers ~16.5% of the Town’s $12.5 M priority water upgrades.
• Unlocks development for ~50 new homes, supporting housing supply and economic growth.
• Adds parkland, protects graves, maintains the public trail, and enhances fire safety.
• Encourages local jobs in construction and services.
• Developers emphasize they’ve always used local contractors and discourage land-banking (Phases 1–5 are 90% built out).
Traffic, Housing, and Design Notes
• Smaller lots and homes: Minimum lot sizes reduced; 1,800 sq ft minimum removed.
• Single cul-de-sac design that can tie into future Spruce Drive extensions.
• Traffic-calming curb extensions near Hemlock Street to slow vehicles.
• STR ratio estimated 50% short-term, 50% long-term use, with a typical 10–15% annual churn rate.
Developer’s Final Message to Council
• The SE Booster Station upgrade is urgent—delays will raise costs and risk service interruptions.
• Their proposal secures water supply and fire protection for existing Selkirk Hill homes while enabling controlled future growth.
• They seek Council’s partnership and support for a balanced approach that meets community needs without adding financial burden to taxpayers.
In conclusion:
The developers dropped their controversial land-purchase bid and instead offered a compromise—funding a major municipal water-system upgrade and advancing Phase 6 with smaller, denser lots, local builders, tree buffers, and added parkland. In exchange, they seek approval for STR zoning at The Sevens to help offset costs, positioning this as a “win-win” for housing, infrastructure, and Golden’s future growth.
Swimming Pool Next Steps
Council was asked to confirm how to move forward on the future of aquatic services in Golden following the 2024 condition review of the Golden Municipal Swimming Pool (GMSP). The report from Director of Recreation Services Jordan Petrovics outlines the next steps to hire a consultant, partner with the CSRD, and define the scope and funding model for either upgrades or replacement of the pool facility.
Key Recommendations
Council is asked to:
1. Engage the CSRD to share the cost of hiring a consultant to explore options.
2. Issue a Request for Expressions of Interest (REOI) to firms qualified in aquatic facility planning, design, and cost estimation.
3. Formally request support from the CSRD Board of Directors for this initiative.
Estimated consultant cost: $80,000–$150,000 (to cover conceptual designs, engineering, and cost analysis).
Background
• The June 17, 2025, report (“Outdoor Swimming Pool – Condition Review and Direction”) began this process.
• That earlier review followed the cancellation of the indoor aquatic centre initiative and a 2024 engineering study by Read Jones Christofferson Ltd., which found $10 million in upgrades were needed to keep the 1979 outdoor facility viable for several more decades.
• The Town and CSRD Area A Director held a site meeting in April 2025, where the CSRD indicated a willingness to participate in future funding discussions.
Scope of Work for the Consultant
• Focus on a “simple facility” concept that meets basic community needs:
– 25 m six-lane lap pool
– Hot tub and/or leisure pool area
– Change rooms and admin space
• Compare options for:
1. Major upgrades to the existing outdoor pool
2. New outdoor facility
3. New indoor facility
Each option will include baseline and enhanced service levels with corresponding operational budgets (e.g., current seasonal model vs. longer open season).
Existing studies (geotech, surveys, archaeological work from the former indoor-pool project) will be reused to save money.
• Decision Factors
Current Direction Needed – Council authorization to engage the CSRD and issue the REOI.
Future Decisions Required
• Budget allocation and identification of funding sources.
• Timeline for concept presentations.
• How this new project fits into the 2025–2029 corporate work plan (since it’s not currently included).
Financial Context
• Consultant budget estimate: $80K – $150K
• Existing reserves:
– Building Capital Reserve ≈ $770K (but many other facility needs).
– Equipment Capital Reserve ≈ $550K (already committed to fleet and equipment).
– Major reconstruction or replacement would likely require borrowing through the Municipal Finance Authority, which means elector approval (referendum or AAP).
– The current pool generates limited revenue and already depends heavily on Town and CSRD subsidies, so cost-sharing is essential.
Operational and Administrative Notes
• The Recreation Director spent 600 hours between 2019 – 2024 on the CSRD indoor-pool project; future work must be balanced with existing commitments.
• The project is not yet in the work plan, so council direction is required to include it.
Strategic and Policy Alignment
• Aligns with the OCP’s goals for recreation, culture, and community wellness—ensuring inclusive, accessible, high-quality recreation spaces supported by partnerships.
• Future plans will need Indigenous consultation and may include green-building technologies, depending on cost thresholds and grant opportunities.
Summary of the June 2025 Report
The earlier report outlined three broad choices for Council:
1. Maintain current service level — invest ~$10 M to renew the existing outdoor pool.
2. Increase service level — upgrade the existing pool or compare costs for new outdoor/indoor facilities.
3. Reduce or discontinue service — close and decommission the pool.
Council chose to pursue further analysis of upgrade vs. replacement options, leading to the current “next steps” proposal.
Bottom Line
Council is being asked to take the next concrete step toward deciding the future of swimming in Golden:
• Partner with the CSRD on funding,
• Hire a consultant to compare realistic costed options (repair, replace, or build new), and
• Develop a clear, data-driven plan before committing millions in capital investment.
