Conflict of interest at city hall sets back West Kelowna resort approval

WEST KELOWNA – A West Kelowna developer will have to wait a little longer for council to approve a large tourist resort and park because of a conflict of interest with a first-term councillor.

Mayor and council had approved a zoning amendment requested by West Bay Vineyards, which is looking for permission to build a beachfront resort off Boucherie Road, but will vote tonight whether or not to rescind the approval.

Coun. Rusty Ensign took part in the initial vote to move forward with the proposal even though his company, Ensign Brothers Ent., had bid on a demolition contract for the development.

Ensign told Global Okanagan there is no conflict of interest since he was approached before the development was approved by council. However West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says Ensign should have removed himself from the process.

“I have a real concern if someone’s voting could be shaded by the fact that they had a contract or intended to seek a contract with a development,” Findlater says. “That’s not right.”

Second and third readings, as well as a public hearing, were given in September.

First proposed in 2009, the proposed resort is a low-density residential and beachfront resort and includes a public waterfront trail.

You can watch the vote live at the City of West Kelowna website. 

To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.