Vernon council says housing development planned for Foothills area ‘exactly what we want’

Sep 26, 2023 | 1:03 PM

A new multi-family housing development received preliminary support from Vernon City Council.

Council was presented with Official Community Plan and Zoning Amendment applications for a 57-unit housing development bordering Silver Star, Bates and Herbert Roads in the Foothills area on the boundary of the Regional District of North Okanagan at the regular meeting Monday, Sept. 25.

The proposed layout for the multi-family housing development near the Foothills area (image courtesy of the City of Vernon)

The applications asked for the Official Community Plan’s land use designation for the property be changed from Country Residential to Rural Low Density and that the property be rezoned from Country Residential to Four-Plex Housing Residential.

The development would have 57 stratified units of housing consisting of 13 semi-detached homes, one tri-plex, and seven quad-plexes.

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Geotechnical, environmental and traffic impact assessments were provided along with the applications. Those reports showed the topsoil is silty but underneath there is sand and gravel, and that the area is rated at medium in the environmental sensitivity index, neither of which would impact development.

There was a slight knoll on the property and a variance would be required at a later date ahead of construction starting.

A connector to the BX Trail on the west side of the development is also planned.

After receiving the report, Councillor Brian Quiring said this is a great project.

“[It’s] exactly what we want. We spent all this money on that corridor. Kids can get easy access to the [BX Elementary] school, close to the [BX Swan Lake] fire hall, close to everything,” Quiring said.

“The services [from the Foothills} are there, this is exactly what the community needs and I’m very excited about it.”

Councillor Kari Gares stated this project addresses the missing middle.

“Which is exactly what the Affordable Housing Committee has been talking about is the need for duplexes and tri-plexes and four-plexes and this particular development actually brings that to our community. So I’m absolutely in favour of this,” Gares stated.

The report outlines a need for a roundabout at Phoenix Drive and Silver Star Road, and Mayor Victor Cuming inquired who would be paying for that and when it would be built.

Danielle DeVries, the transportation planner for the City of Vernon, stated the roundabout is already in the City of Vernon’s Rolling Capital Plan, and that the city would be designing, paying for, and installing it in 2025.

She added the applicant has been asked to install a crosswalk with a rapid flashing beacon at the roundabout to ensure the safety of the people crossing between the new development and the Silver Star Road Multi-Use Pathway.

Cumming also asked why there was no connection between Herbert Road and the newly proposed Manning Place, to which DeVries stated that was being developed as part of an adjacent subdivision project and would be brought forward at a later date.

Council voted unanimously in favour of supporting, in principle, the OCP and zoning amendment applications.

A public hearing on the development will be held at a future date ahead of the applications receiving full support from the city and work commencing.

by Liam Verster

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