All systems appear to be go for the Sweetwater Resort, which could be the biggest recreational resort on the Koocanusa Reservoir and is already one of the most controversial.

The proposed 112 hectare (300 acre) all-seasons resort on the west side of the lake has the potential to grow into a community of its own, a fact that?s raised concerns of several Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) directors

A short RDEK public hearing at the Jaffray Community Centre Oct. 4 gave opponents of the resort a last chance to raise their concerns, but now development of the Sweetwater Resort seems all but assured.

This pleases Calgary resort developer Craig McMorran, but still leaves some RDEK directors sounding nervous. Electoral Area B (South Country) Director Heath Slee says the resort has the potential to be a showcase development, but only time will tell.

?There?s no question it?s big but we (the Board) did our best to mitigate the concerns about that.? The development, which is now a dusty construction site, could have as many as 700 building sites and 150 more parcels for RV parking sites. ?There?s no question that?s a lot of people,? says Slee while RDEK Director Dean McKerracher says Sweetwater could be as large as his home community of Elkford.

Slee says his greatest concern is the resort have a proper sewage system so the lake is not polluted and steps will also have to be taken to avoid the impacts of a 700-slip marina planned for the resort which will feed a lake that already gets heavy boat traffic in the summer months. ?We just hope they will be able to police it when the time comes.?

During the public hearing, several Koocanusa area residents and others expressed concerns about the sheer size of the resort and its density of development which will be a new way of living in the mainly rural area.

Bob Galbraith would like to see the density reduced, more green space and a more rural feel to the proposed development. Perdita Webster is also in favour of reduced density and an environmental assessment being completed before the project goes ahead. Mary Munro says the site, which was once the old Marcer Ranch property should never have been excluded from the ALR.

But Priddis, Alberta resident Vic Tawes says the project will stimulate the local economy and allow more people to enjoy a beautiful area.

Meanwhile McMorran, who purchased the property in 2007 and had it removed from the ALR in May 2009, says many of the project?s critics have never even visited the site.

?What I say to them is come down and have a look. Come down and enjoy it and talk to us and if you have any concerns voice them to me. I?m always happy to sit down with people or take a phone call. I?m accessible. I don?t look at myself as being a big developer. I look at myself as being passionate about a project I?ve got under my belt and partial control.?

McMorran acknowledges the size of the development is a concern to some, but says there?s another point to keep in mind. ?This is a resort. People will be coming here for the weekend, a week or a month in the summertime or in the winter to ski, but it?s a resort. It?s not a town. It?s not like Elkford where people live and work there.?

People shouldn?t be unduly concerned about the marina plans either because it?s not known yet how big it will be, says McMorran. ?Because of the way the lake goes up and down, we don?t know how many docks we can fit in. We?re not finished our planning yet.?

McMorran says the maximum approved density for the project is 890 units, including about 500 single-family lots, 150 recreational vehicle sites and the remainder multi-unit buildings. ?But that?s whether we get to it. I don?t think we?ll get to that.?

The sewer system is being worked on now, timber taken from the site is being stockpiled for home building and applications are being made for show houses on the property. In the end the result will be an all-season, sustainable, golf cart community where people will park their cars and just enjoy the lakeshore lifestyle, McMorran says.

?It?s hard to explain what the final design will be like, but it will be pleasing to people. I think people will be happy when they see what?s there when it?s finished.?

But doubts still remain. Slee says he wonders how such a project can be successful in the current economy. ?We all know what the real estate market is like now. It?s in the doldrums and it?s a challenging time for developments like this to go forward. There?s going to have to be some changes before things take off again.?

McKerracher, who is the mayor of Elkford, has his concerns too. ?It?s concerning the project is going to be as large as it is. It will be close to a thousand residents before he?s done. Whether that will happen in my lifetime, I don?t know.

?The lake is not large enough for the amount of boats it?s suggested he?s going to put on and he?s probably going to have trouble selling the lots to start with.?

Despite the concerns, RDEK Chairman Scott Manjak says the project is on track. ?We know it?s controversial, but as Director Slee said at the last meeting he wanted it to go to his community for comment. It has and now it?s moving forward through the legislative process. Then the developer will have to sit down with our planning staff and work through it.?