Anmore’s new community hub building could soon have its own café or host other small commercial enterprises.
Tonight (March 4), a public hearing will be held at the hub prior to council’s consideration of third reading of a new zoning bylaw that would allow the operation of small food service or retail uses, as well as commercial recreation activities in the $8.5-million structure that opened in January 2024. Currently, the building is zoned for civic institutional uses and public service.
In a report, village planner Josh Joseph said allowing small-scale accessory commercial uses as well as being able to rent out the facility for activities like yoga classes will help make Anmore’s civic centre more “vibrant.”
And while Joseph said there’s no immediate plan to increase the number of parking spaces at the hub, Mayor John McEwen said on Feb. 18 that a new parking plan could be considered as part of an anticipated re-imagining of Dr. Hal Weinberg Spirit Park, which is currently on hold as the village plans for public consultation.
McEwen said small commercial enterprises in the hub is unlikely to need more parking spaces, but some events like the annual ugly Christmas sweater run that are beginning to use the location as a base do attract more visitors.
The 16,000-square-foot community hub is located on the same site where British Columbia’s late newspapering legend, Margaret “Ma” Murray, used to homestead with her husband, George. But their old cedar-shingled house was demolished in 2018 despite several attempts to save it.
The new hub includes Anmore’s civic offices, an emergency operations centre and a public hall where council conducts its meetings.
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