Development plans for the Takhini Hot Springs area are finally gathering steam.

At an open house event last night, Garry Umbrich, the president of Takhini Hot Springs Ltd., introduced a crowd of about 20 to new land owners and their plans for all of the properties in the area.

In essence, the end goal is to create a resort community that’s sustainable economically, socially and environmentally – and lure in more tourist traffic.

“This project has been going on now for about 17 years,” Umbrich said.

When Takhini Hot Springs Ltd. purchased the land and the hot springs in 1999, there were two realities to be faced – one obvious, and one not so obvious.

Firstly, the existing pool was at the end of its economic life, Umbrich said, adding it had structural cracks that would just get worse.

The less obvious situation was how to deal with the existing land boundaries. As it stood in 1999, the property line ran right through the pool and the main building.

“We straightened that out,” Umbrich explained.

“We configured lots so that every business unit has a separate lot.”

As it stands now, there are 10 parcels of land – and each enterprise is separated on its own piece of property.

Six of the land parcels have been sold to new owners; the other four still belong to Takhini Hot Springs Ltd.

The two parcels of land next to Bean North Café and the Yukon Wildlife Preserve is being considered as a location for resort accommodation.

“I can build five residences there, for vacation homes,” said land owner Mark Goudreau, also suggesting potential for a high-end bed and breakfast or motel.

“None of this is cast in stone.”

An exciting new tourist attraction is in the works for the land where the existing campground is located – Yukon Escape Games.

It is the type of physical adventure game that sees people locked in a room together tasked with the goal of completing a series of puzzles in order to escape the room before the clock runs out.

This Klondike-themed venture is being proposed by land owners Andrew Umbrich and Lauren O’Coffey, who currently run the campground and hostel.

The couple also leases and runs the hot pools from Takhini Hot Springs Ltd. under the separate name of Takhini Hot Pools.

It would be the first escape game venture north of Prince George, B.C., said Andrew Umbrich.

And it is expected to open in May, he added.

Another parcel of land is earmarked for development.

Land owner Christian Berneche said he is still considering a few options for the land, including yurts for summer use or conference facilities.

Two small vacation homes under the name Spring Hills Resort have been built on another piece of land, and will be ready to be rented in the near future.

In the space where the former retreat centre was located, a show home has been built by Evergreen Homes.

As one owner was not in attendance last night, Umbrich spoke on his behalf.

“We have created what is called a strata condominium corporation,” he explained.

“I know the word ‘condominium’ kind of strikes terror in some people at the hot springs because it doesn’t jive with the image of forests and things like that.”

Essentially, the strata condominium corporation simply allows for there to be two different owners on one piece of land, Umbrich said.

Joe Glynn, the co-owner of the land, said the show home will be open in the coming months.

Another land piece will be the site of up to nine residential homes.

The location of the existing hot pools will likely be the future site of an astronomical observatory, Umbrich said.

On the same piece of land, the aim is to construct new hot pools and have them open by June of 2018 – one public pool, one pool available for rental and a Nordic spa, which would grant people access to a sauna, steam room and “relaxing room.”

Umbrich emphasized the idea is to have the switch to new pools occur with minimal interruption.

He stressed that the development plans won’t significantly change the look of the area.

“If our resort plan works out and we’re successful in implementing this, you still won’t see much difference,” he said.

He also noted an initiative to preserve existing land, and repurpose any land that’s already been disturbed by development.

The land owner’s plans have been a topic of back-and-forth discussions for years.

In November 2015, a petition signed by 11 residents of the neighbourhood was tabled in the territorial legislature.

This was largely in response to Umbrich’s application to re-zone several parcels of land earlier that year. The application was put on hold, and the government has yet to approve or reject it.

Area residents have been vocally opposed to residential development that is more than was was agreed to in the 2002 Hot Springs Road Local Area Plan.

If the land is developed, the residents fear a change in residential density, quality of life and potentially increased traffic.

Lake Laberge MLA Brad Cathers said this morning that the concerns are largely centred on residential development, not tourism-related ventures.

Cathers attended last night’s meeting on behalf of constituents who were unable to make it due to the “pretty short notice” that was given.

“I was there to listen and get a better sense of what they’re currently planning so that I can share that information with constituents,” Cathers said.

While it may be too early to know what people think of the updated plans, Cathers hinted it might not be received as amicably as it was last night by those in attendance.

“I would speculate that for some people who were concerned, it may alleviate some people’s concerns, but will probably increase the concerns of others,” he said.

There are about 400 people residing in the Takhini Hot Springs Road area.

An investment opportunities website will go live on March 1 at yukonhotsprings.com.