CLARENVILLE, N.L. — After a fire several weeks ago which razed The Wave Hotel and pool, the Town of Clarenville addressed the community’s concerns regarding access to a pool in the area.
On Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the first official council meeting since the fire, as part of the recreation and community development committee report, chair Coun. Rod Nicholl spoke on the topic.
“This committee, on behalf of council, extends their sincere regrets to (owner) Mr. Balsom regarding the devastating fire that recently destroyed the Wave Hotel and Fitness Centre,” said Nicholl at the meeting.
He went on to address requests from the public for council to construct their own community pool in the wake of the loss of The Wave.
Many residents, such as those involved with the local swim club The Waverunners, have called for a community pool to be built long before the private facility at The Wave was destroyed.
However, as Nicholl read from the committee report, he said the town couldn’t build and maintain the pool themselves.
“Although there is support for having a pool in this area, it would be incredibly difficult financially for the town, at this time, to undertake this project solely as a Town of Clarenville project,” he said.
However, Nicholl added that the town would consider a scenario in which the pool is a joint initiative between several levels of government and using contributions from other municipalities and service districts in the surrounding region.
“The town would consider contributing to a regional pool concept that is financially supported by the federal and provincial government and regional municipalities and local service districts,” concluded Nicholl.
Gym applies for business occupancy
In addition to losing both a 50-room hotel and pool in the community as a result of the fire, a fitness centre gym facility was also lost in the fire at The Wave.
At the same Clarenville town council meeting on Feb. 19, the town seems to have already received a request from a business owner looking to fill the need left by the fire at the hotel.
Council received an application for business occupancy for the commercial space at 1 Blackmore Avenue for the purposes of a gym.
The business occupancy request’s location is zoned “Commercial General.”
It was the recommendation of the public works and planning committee to approve the application, provided they receive a proposed floor plan for the gym and the business complies with the town’s developmental regulations and other government services.
The report was accepted by council via a unanimous motion.
Twitter: @jejparsons
