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A tie-vote means the proponents of a polarizing events centre in Draper must reapply for rezoning after Jan. 1.
Published Nov 26, 2025 • Last updated 19 hours ago • 4 minute read
The River’s Edge Event Centre and Resort in the community of Draper located south of Fort McMurray on August 17, 2025. Photo by Vincent McDermott /Fort McMurray Today/Postmedia NetworkArticle content
The proponents of a polarizing events centre in Draper backed by UCP MLA and cabinet minister Brian Jean and his wife, Kimberly, must reapply for rezoning after council could not discuss the matter further at their Tuesday meeting.
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Zoning for the proposed River’s Edge District was last brought to a council meeting last May. Dozens of speakers and written submissions spoke in favour or against the project. Most Draper residents opposed the project.
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After a brief break, Mayor Sandy Bowman said the hearing had to be suspended following legal advice from administration. The RMWB, as well as past and current councillors, have not commented publicly on the nature of the legal advice.
On Tuesday, council had to vote on if they would vote on the matter or abstain. Provincial legislation allows councillors to abstain from voting on matters if they missed parts of the public hearing. Only Bowman and councillors Lance Bussieres, Kendrick Cardinal and Stu Wigle were at last May’s meeting. The remaining seven councillors were elected in October.
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A minimum six council members are needed for quorom. If fewer than six council members are present, a council meeting cannot continue. But a 5-5 tie vote on Tuesday stopped the matter from continuing.
Bowman, Wigle, Don Scott, and Lance and Luana Bussieres voted in favour of continuing. Councillors Mike Allen, Ty Brandt, Greg Marcel, Kyle Vandecasteyen and Jennifer Vardy opposed. Cardinal was absent from the meeting.
The RMWB’s council chambers at the Jubilee Centre in Fort McMurray on April 25, 2022. Photo by Vincent McDermott /Fort McMurray Today/Postmedia NetworkRezoning pitch unpopular among Draper residents
The River’s Edge District is zoned as a small holdings district. This allows residential development, small-scale agriculture and other land uses that could be impacted by flooding.
The proponents of the project, which includes many of Fort McMurray’s business leaders, want council to turn the land into a direct control district. This allows commercial use such as campgrounds, resorts or camps. It also would support outdoor recreation, easier access to the river system, promote tourism, and provide space for public and cultural gatherings.
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Supporters also argue the 117-acre project is far from most residents, with the nearest homes roughly a kilometre away from the main building.
However council must also approve its approved permitted uses. Most Draper residents who spoke to the municipality on the topic oppose the event centre.
The most common concerns were fears Draper would lose its rural character, see more traffic than existing roads can handle, and deal with noise and privacy issues. There were also concerns about flooding, and the building’s impacts on Draper’s water and sewage system.
A report to council from the RMWB’s planning and development department said the proposed rezoning is not aligned with council’s municipal development plan (MDP) for Draper, which is “maintaining its large-lot, low-density rural residential character and prioritizing the protection and preservation of the natural environment.”
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Allen uncomfortable with proceeding, Scott acknowledges past endorsement
Allen said he was not comfortable voting on the matter because he was not on council last May and did not watch the public meeting.
“I have no knowledge of the content of who presented and what was presented,” he said. “I wouldn’t be comfortable with a land-use matter that is changing to direct use. I don’t think I’d be comfortable participating if I have the option to bow out on this one.”
Scott was not a councillor at the time, but as a citizen endorsed the project at the meeting. At last May’s meeting, he pointed out the Jeans are local residents who are investing their own money into the project and argued the area has a history of opposing any large developments in the area.
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On Tuesday, he acknowledged speaking at the meeting in a statement written after receiving legal advice on the matter.
“I am free of bias and enter into the public hearing with an open mind, capable of persuasion on the basis of the submissions provided through this process,” he said. “I am here to listen and to evaluate the facts. I am approaching this from a position of neutrality.”
Kimberly Jean was the only public speaker at Tuesday’s meeting, where she urged council to approve quorom. She argued cancelling the hearing would waste thousands of hours of work by citizens and administration, as well as discourage future applicants and investors. She suggested council could limit the number of speakers or request a summary from administration.
“Continuing the hearing is about protecting taxpayer dollars, but also about protecting the integrity of public processes, respecting the time and resources invested, and upholding fairness for all stakeholders,” she said.
“Doing so will strengthen trust, encourage future development and show that our governance is reliable and principled.”
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