The land in the Commonage area where Kerkhoff Develop-Build are proposing building a 3,500 home neighbourhoo (Image Credit: Kerkhoff Develop-Build / Facebook)

By Liam Verster

3,500 Unit Development

Revised Commonage development proposal coming back before council

Mar 23, 2026 | 6:00 AM

The re-written plan for a multi-thousand housing unit development in the Commonage area is coming back before Vernon City Council.

The developer, Kerkhoff Develop-Build, was originally proposing a development consisting of 4,000 housing units, 1,800 of which would be attainably prices.

After receiving feedback from the public, the developer revised the plan to limit it to 3,500 units with smaller footprints to limit encroachment on potentially ecologically sensitive areas, having 1,400 attainably priced units, a commitment to preserve two thirds of the land it owns in the Commonage hillside, and a commitment to cover all the costs for extending the water system up to the area for the development.

“This is different from any other housing development previously proposed for Vernon and will create a new option for those forced to leave Vernon for more affordable housing markets like Alberta,” Leonard Kerkhoff, president and CEO of Kerkhoff Develop-Build, said in a release.

“Homes for young workers, families and seniors are needed to keep people living and working in Vernon, but no one is planning attainably priced housing on this scale.

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“We’ve arrived at a submission that takes our vision and combines it with what the community has told us. I urge everyone to understand the true facts in our submission. It’s accessible from our website, and outlines how we propose to help working people and families do something about Vernon’s housing crisis.”

The developer added Vernon’s home prices have increased by 45 per cent over the past five years, while the average incomes have only increased by 13 per cent, and said this development would address that gap by reducing the costs of delivering homes.

The company also urged people visit their website and learn more about what they plan for the project.

A request to amend the Official Community Plan for this revised development proposal will be brought forward for discussion at the Vernon City Council meeting Monday, March 23.