Proposed duplex building scheme (photo / High Mountain Homes)

By Kevin Rothwell

Could help housing crunch

Lumby multi family development nearly ready

Mar 1, 2021 | 6:00 AM

Another North Okanagan community is poised to add some significant single family and multi family housing to help ease rental and purchase shortages.

A proposed development at 1700 Mountain View Avenue in Lumby continues to move forward.

A rezoning application from residential single family to medium density residential first came before council in 2018.

High Mountain Homes is proposing eight single family three bedroom homes and up to 45 side by side duplexes. The homes would be built by the developer to maintain quality and building appearance.

“The objective is that the homes would look and feel like a country cottage that fits within the neighbourhood,” co-developer and builder David Borden stated. “We want to build good quality, solid homes at an affordable price.”

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The proposed two-family dwelling units would be one storey at the front and two to three storeys at the rear with a walk-out basement.

The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) housing needs assessment stated:

• The RDNO is home to approximately 84,300 people living in 40,000 dwellings;
• RDNO population is older (49.5 years) than the B.C. average (43 years);
• The housing stock is quite old, with only 13 per cent of dwellings constructed since 2001;
• The region’s growth is completely dependent upon migration as natural deaths outpace births within the region;
• 12 per cent of the region’s households are in core need, with affordability being the main challenge;
• There are a significant number of households with three or more bedrooms, occupied by only two people. These households may want to downsize but there is not a lot of suitable homes for them to move into within their community. Additional small format two bedroom plus a den, townhomes and larger apartments would provide that diversity that is currently missing;
• The region is expected to add roughly 300-350 households each year over the next 20 years. Based on our demographics and projected needs, 50 percent of those dwellings should be two bedroom apt, townhouse or small homes; 25 per cent 1-1.5 bedroom apartments and per cent 3+ single family dwellings;
• The biggest challenge the region is facing is a backlog in unmet need for affordable housing units ($500-$1000/month rent range), specifically for one-person households in the age range of 45-64.

“We are trying to encourage mixed-use development that will meet the communities housing needs,” Mayor Kevin Acton said.

The ten acre mountain side property backs onto forest land and has easy access to Highway 6.

“Reports on the forest fire interface, traffic impact and geotechnical reports are completed and will be going back to Lumby council soon,” co-developer Robert Borden told Vernon Matters.

Aerial view of the development property (photo/Village of Lumby)

Both Gallon Avenue and Schunter Drive are proposed to be extended to accommodate the development.