Thumb’s down to new development

I read about Blackmun’s proposed development along what can best be described as the Lakeview escarpment. This project will more than double the vehicles that must enter and exit the already burgeoning traffic circle at Campbell Road and Highway 97. Moreover, Campbell Road is a single lane, dead-end road that stops at Kalamoir Park. The National Fire Safety Association recommends that a community of this size should have not two, but three access roads for fire safety.

So why then would IBI defend the developer’s opposition to providing a second road? Let’s start with the developer. Blackmun is an out-of-town consortium that bought steep hillside land — even cliffs — that were specifically identified as undevelopable land in West Kelowna’s official community plan.

Blackmun hired its bevy of consultants to disprove the rationale of that Official Community Plan.

IBI, a Toronto-based development consultant started by Phil Beihaker, has been involved in many large urban projects that are most frequently re-developments of existing built-up areas. They are not consultants with the sensitivity for the unique blend of woodland, green space, agricultural land, and development that make the Okanagan such a stunning place to live.

West Kelowna is an emerging and thriving suburb to Kelowna. A large number of people cross the Bennett Bridge every day. It is a major thoroughfare to the Lower Mainland. The biggest bottleneck is where the residents, both above and below the Lakeview Escarpment, try to merge with Highway 97 traffic. Traffic creeps to a stand-still. Imagine what will happen to traffic flow if the number of cars merging at this round-about doubles.

And imagine the traffic snarls when the infrastructure demands of other developments proposed along the Lakeview Escarpment, are added to the Blackmun project? Yes, there are 2 more: The Benedick development — 40 single-family dwellings, and Westbank First Nations’ project of about 270 units. And another 25 lots above Lucinde Road already have permits.

It is IBI’s job to see the trees. It is the city’s job to see the forest. Fortunately, the new council in West Kelowna is maturing and recognizing that patchwork development, while enticing as tax revenue, can also damage the very benefits of the community they are sworn to protect. It should never be the purpose of municipalities to stop development; however, council has a duty and the expertise to see that development is completed in a holistic manner with serious attention to all characteristics of the regional landscape, and not just the plot of dirt that Blackmun bought.

Just because patchwork development occurred in the past, that does not mean West Kelowna is well served by this approach.