The May 23 council meeting saw discussions of multiple development proposals including one at Union Bar Road which went through a public hearing.
That evening also saw the approval of a development permit for 588 and 590 Old Hope Princeton Way, where the defunct Hope Drive-In and Restaurant sits, and a revised proposal for 690 Third Ave., where the colloquially-known “purple house” is.
Development on Union Bar Road approved
The public hearing of the Union Bar Road proposal, located at 21692 and 21732 Union Bar Rd., involves developing 12-15 new rural home sites with a minimum of one hectare per lot. It will have wells and septic for each lot, an asphalt road, overhead utilities and a new road access from Union Bar Road. Council ultimately approved the project.
Neighbours attended the public hearing, raising concerns of traffic on Union Bar Road, water supply and wildlife. One attendee, former mayor Bud Gardner, spoke for it, although he raised concerns about the water system. Mayor Wilfried Vicktor also made arguments of the benefits of the development.
Concerns surrounding Union Bar Road come from the increased traffic during construction, and the narrow road that would lead to the property.
“It’s a lane,” said a neighbour. “As it is, it’s a very dangerous road and that’s my main concern with that many more vehicles on the road.”
That neighbour asked the presenter, president and CEO of Emil Anderson Construction (EAC), Mike Jacobs, whether he would do any upgrades to Union Bar Road, to which he said the road is the District’s property and they cannot do anything to that road.
After another participant commented on logging trucks on that road, the director of community development, Jas Gill, said that the lot would have more restricted use once rezoned. He said that as it were, the lot could be used for mining and forestry. Logging of trees will play a part in the construction of the property.
Water and sewage also draw concerns. Asked if there will be compensation if construction affects residents’ supply, Jacobs assured that EAC will hire geotechnical experts and hydrogeologists.
Gardner added to this topic by stating his concern that the District will allow septic tanks around a lake. Instead, he suggested that they could put a sewage treatment plant before discharging it into the lake. Jacobs responded there are also individual treatment plants available and while EAC has not looked at the details for this site, it will be considered.
Besides that concern, Gardner stood for the project.
“I think we need to have development in our community,” said Gardner. “I’m not happy with my taxes either, I got a business here. Unbelievable tax.
“We need more development to get our tax base higher, to get our taxes lower.”
Gardner said the District charges development costs that will help with Union Bar Road, and he trusts EAC to develop the land responsibly.
“I don’t think because it may change your lifestyle and your property a little bit that we can say ‘no’ to it,” said Gardner.
Mayor Wilfried Vicktor said septic systems today have strict requirements and highlighted that Hope faces a “chronic housing shortage,” and that council has to keep in mind their community plan.
Vicktor also attacked arguments against the development by saying that landowners can develop their lands if they want to, and the community must grow “to some extent.” He reminded participants that “our homes came from vacant land at some point too.”
“I’m sure the wildlife wasn’t exactly excited about that concept and I’m sure the neighbours … were probably a little unexcited about that as well,” said Vicktor. “As council, it’s obviously an awkward spot here because many people in the community don’t want to see any growth at all.”
Vicktor added that he expects the properties to be high-end and hence will contribute notably towards property taxes.
Coun. Scott Medlock asks what safeguards residents will have for their water quality. Gill replied that water quality changes is hard to prove because monitoring needs to be done over time and residents would find it hard to pinpoint the source of the problem.
Coun. Donna Kropp said she would like to see more signage and also thinks the speed limit of 50 kilometres per hour is too high. He hopes that EAC can collaborate with them
Reduced proposal for Third Ave.
The developer of 690 Third Ave. has come back with a reduced proposal. Instead of four lots, they propose three.
The total area of 1,716-square-metres will be subdivided into one lot of 520-sq.-m., and two lots of 431-sq.-m. It will have a principal building and a secondary dwelling.
This proposal will go through another public hearing, which Gill expects to happen in July.
Changes coming to old Drive-In property
Out with the old and in with the new, as council approved a development permit where the Hope Drive-In and Restaurant is.
According to the report by Gill, the proposed work at 588 and 590 Old Hope Princeton Way includes building two buildings. The bigger building will have a coffee shop with a drive-thru and a patio, and also a smaller unit with a specialty beverage store with a small patio. The smaller building will have a drive-thru restaurant with a patio. It currently has a name of “Coquihalla Junction.” The Drive-In restaurant’s building will be demolished for redevelopment.
According to a Colliers International document, the land, building and business there were valued at $1.6 million.