900 homes proposed for Smith Creek
Quarter of site north of Westbank would be preserved as park
More than 2,000 people are expected to live in the next phase of development in the Smith Creek area of West Kelowna.
Single-family homes will account for most of the future 900 residences in an area covering 154 hectares, much of which was burned in a 2014 wildfire, about four kilometres north of Westbank.
Just over a quarter of the site would be preserved as park or open spaces, according to preliminary development plans reviewed this week by West Kelowna city council.
But a major BC Hydro transmission line runs through the development site, and a second such line might be built in the future through part of the property.
“I’m concerned about how many homes would back onto the transmission line,” Coun. Bryden Winsby said at Wednesday’s council meeting.
Many details, such as the road network and park location, still must be worked out, council heard from planning department staff.
“This is an information document only,” planner Brent Magnan told council.
Preliminary site investigation revealed the presence of an old Indigenous people’s campsite, which will be protected as an environmentally sensitive area. It might be the highest-elevation Indigenous people’s campsite identified so far in the Okanagan, council heard.
As well, an old irrigation flume, used to move water from Smith Creek to early orchards, runs through the development site. The flume will also be protected and form the basis for a linear park of at least 20 metres in width.
Plans are for the main access to the development to be provided from a future extension of Tallus Ridge Drive.
A public meeting on the expansion of the Smith Creek neighbourhood will be held at a later date.