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City grants dentist the second revitalization tax exemption

Dr. W. Dean Nish granted short-term tax exemption on new clinic opposite Cranbrook's library

Council granted the second Revitalization Taxation Exemption Agreement last week for Dr. W. Dean Nish Inc.

The agreement, approved at the July 14 council meeting, provides a 100 per cent tax exemption of the municipal share of property tax due in relation to improvements on the parcels for a period of five years commencing in 2015.

The Heid Out was the first business granted the exemption under the bylaw earlier this year. The City of Cranbrook Downtown Revitalization Bylaw took effect in 2012.

The construction value on the development has be at least $400,000.

Coun. Diana J. Scott said it is great news and does enable people to refurbish some of the downtown locations better than they could have without the agreement.

“It’s a very good fit, having a dental clinic in that location, because of its proximity to the Kootenay Child Development Centre, which is very health oriented,” Scott said. “Then the physicians and a few other health specialists and doctors moving into the (former) Giant Tiger location. So it’s going to be a real hub of activity.”

City staff recommended approving the application from Dr. Dean Nish.

The building, which now houses the dental clinic, is a 295 sq. metre, wood-framed commercial building which replaced an older single-family dwelling on the property.

It was designed and constructed as a dental practice.

It incorporates natural light with numerous exterior windows.

It also includes a Dutch gable-style roof with a lower cornice roof line to provide sunlight shading.

The building includes rock facing, stucco and brown trim finishes.

The application noted that the entrance with columns and architectural details are intended to project a welcoming, traditional style building and also acknowledges the styles of the adjacent Manual Training School, library and Ktunaxa building.

Council also passed the first three readings of an amendment that changes some of the language in the City of Cranbrook Downtown Revitalization Bylaw.

“BC Assessment asked for clarification,” Mayor Wayne Stetski said. “This is the bylaw that allows businesses that are investing in the downtown area potentially to not pay property taxes on their improvements for five years. It’s one of the improvements that council made to improve the opportunity for businesses. And to help ensure a vital downtown Cranbrook.”

Stetski said the language was confusing so they asked for some of the language in the bylaw to be changed to provide clarity to BC Assessment.

The language, which passed three readings and is ready for formal adoption, has already been looked at by the assessment authority and looks to have fixed any issue.