Quesnel, B.C. – A new development is in the works in Quesnel.

This week city council passed second reading of the zone amendment bylaw for a proposed 13,000 square foot bowling alley/mini golf recreation centre in town.

The facility would offer twelve bowling lanes, 18-hole black light mini golf, a food concession, a primary liquor licence, and an accessory retail facility.

It would be located at the corner of Racing Road and Valhalla Road, a commercial area heading south from town.

Approximately 25 people attended a public consultation earlier this month, hosted by the developer Parallel, where according to the City input was “overwhelmingly positive.”

Mayor Bob Simpson adds it would be fully accessible and has the support of the local neighbourhood association.

“People are very excited to see something like this being built in town. To date we have had no concerns”, he says.

“I met with the local neighbourhood association and Parallel did a good job of doing some door knocking, talking to the neighbours directly. In fact, their only concern was why would we be delaying the project which is because we have to go through the zoning.”

He says the next step in the process will be a Public Hearing scheduled for 7 p.m. June 28 at City Hall. If all goes according to plan Simpson says the company plans to break ground this summer.

“I think this is something that runs counter to some of the feelings that people have in our community that Quesnel is struggling,” says Simpson.

“We actually have a significant increase in building permits, residential development, investment in commercial spaces and now we have this opportunity to see an expansion in our private sector recreation capacity.”

He says the development also fits well with the City’s strategy of attracting more doctors and professionals to town.

“Often they’re not used to winter based communities, it’s one of the bits of feedback we get so having an indoor recreation facility helps us attract the kind of people to our community that will continue to make our community stable.”