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Lois Park Development Permit granted
Kimberley City Council Report
By Nowell Berg
On June 10, City of Kimberley council held its regular bi-monthly meeting.
Councillors Sue Cairns, Kevin Dunnebacke, Woody Maguire, Jason McBain and Sandra Roberts were present along with Mayor Don McCormick.
An archive of the meeting can be found on the City of Kimberley YouTube channel. Watch it here.
Access to Mail-in Election Ballots Expanded for Future Elections
Maryse Leroux, Corporate Officer, presented council with an amendment to the city’s election bylaw that brings it into alignment with the Provincial Local Government Act.
In preparations for the fall 2024 by-election to replace Stephen Royer, who resigned from council for personal reasons, the election bylaw amendment, “now makes a mail-in ballot available to anybody. You don’t have to have a disability or be out of the city,” said Leroux.
Mail-in ballots will be available in future elections to all eligible residents who request one.
Lois Park Development Permit Granted
Troy Pollock, Manager of Planning and Sustainability, presented council with a development permit application for the Lois Park subdivision in Townsite north of Fernie Street.
The proposal calls for the 6.82 hectares (16.8 acre) parcel to be subdivided into 59 lots over three phases of development. According to Pollock, Phase 1 will include 16 lots.
Several outside reports were prepared and presented as part of this development permit. Wildfire hazard, geo-technical and environmental assessment reports formed part of the proposal.
Pollock informed council that any wildfire hazard is deemed “low.” All future owners will be made aware of FireSmart guidelines.
The geo-technical report noted that building a storm water infiltration pond “will not negatively affect slope stability” in the area.
An environmental assessment report noted several areas in the proposed sub-division that include water course, wetland and anthropogenic basin that require a qualified environmental professional be retained to over-see these concerns during the building process.
The developer has agreed with the city that a ‘registered building scheme” will form part of each land title that will “restrict” the type of dwelling allowed on each lot. Only single unit dwellings will be permitted along with a secondary or accessory unit. At this stage no multi-unit construction will be part of the development.
Pollock told council the biggest concern raised by the public dealt with trail access, particularly Bart’s and Bench Trails, which run through the private land.
He added the proponent has agreed that “existing trails will remain and public access through and over those trails will be retained and honoured.”
Coun. Sue Cairns commented about the one road in and out access in case of wildfire emergency. She “hope[s] for the best, but plan for the worst.”
Pollock replied that once the development permit is approved the next stage would be the sub-division approval process that “will work on design of roads, utilities and the storm water pond.” All of this work will need to be signed off by professional engineers “to make sure all is good” before any construction work begins.
Cairns also noted there was “no affordable housing with this development.” She pointed out the city should be conducting a “big picture housing discussion that meets our [Kimberley’s] needs.” She concluded that discussion was for another time.
Other councillors weighed in on the storm water pond, trail, daycare and road access, but at the vote Coun. Cairns was the only one opposed to the development permit.
The Lois Park subdivision moves to the next stage of city approval.
Kimberley city council assembles twice monthly starting at 7 p.m., The next regular council meeting: June 24.
e-KNOW file photo
e-KNOW
