Revamped proposal gets cool reception

Summerland councillors express disappointment with subdivision plan from company behind rejected seniors’ housing project

The developer behind the ill-fated Banks Crescent development in Summerland has fleshed out a new proposal, and council isn’t impressed.

At their meeting Monday, councillors received a brief presentation on Lark Group’s new project from chief administrative officer Linda Tynan, who emphasized it was for information only.

A rough sketch of the site showed a 38-lot subdivision — a far cry from the hundreds of condos proposed previously, but not enough to impress council.

“When we think back to the conversation we had about this location, I remember saying, ‘I think we can do better than this,’” said Coun. Erin Carlson. “I would like to suggest this isn’t really that much better.”

Carlson added the new proposal lacks creativity, green space and access to trails, and ended by saying the proposal overall was “disappointing” and “unappealing.” “I don’t see it yet,” she said.

Tynan noted the application is in its very early stages and was only brought before council to make sure council was aware of future proposals.

“I think that if these applications are going to be brought before council prior to the official application and held up for that purpose, then there must be some purpose for council to look at them and make comments,” replied Coun. Richard Barkwill.

Tynan said the purpose of showing the application in its early stages was to avoid a repeat of 18 months ago, when the originally proposed seniors’ living development was brought to council after staff started processing the paperwork. That led to community members who sat on advisory committees knowing about the development before council did.

Policy was then changed to bring applications forward for a brief viewing so council can then advise staff to begin processing them.

Council in February 2018 killed Lark Group’s original plan for the site when it turned down the necessary regulatory approvals that were required for the proposed $125-million project that called for over 230 condominium units of market housing for seniors, 100 units of independent living and 50 units of assisted living.

Density of the development, possible impacts on the Shaughnessy Springs aquifer, which supplies water to the downstream fish hatchery, and loss of agricultural-zoned land were among concerns expressed by council at the time.