A decision to subdivide and begin negotiations to sell public land in a sole source agreement could help a local company remain in Canmore.
Canmore council voted unanimously earlier this month to begin subdivision and sole source negotiations with the Rocky Mountain Soap Company.
Interim manager of planning Alaric Fish said the company approached the Town about municpal property adjacent to the heliport as a possibility for sale.
“The Town has no current plan for that land in question,” Fish said. “This sort of business is very much in line with the economic development strategy to diversify the economy.”
That community benefit, he added, is consistent with the land sales policy for authorizing sole source sales. Fish also said the lands, which are to the west of the heliport, are compromised and limited in use due to that fact.
Rocky Mountain Soap Company owner Cam Baty said council’s decision, which only starts the process as it will have to return for final approval, is great news.
“We still have a long way to make it happen,” Baty said. “We really want to stay in the community so hopefully this is a good step towards that.
“Council and administration have been unbelievably good at trying to make it happen.”
