For The Record: Quilchena Development

Over the past several weeks we have fielded dozens of emails, phone calls, and meetings with residents to address numerous concerns. Through these conversations, we have found misinformation and misunderstanding as to the nature of the development and our plans that require clarification. We wish to reaffirm our commitment to this community and the values that it stands for by providing factual information directly to the public and we will post any future corrections or clarifications including any links to the original source on our website. All feedback in the form of survey including comments, without omission, have been provided to the City of Kelowna.

The Sports Field - WE ARE KEEPING A SPORTS FIELD

  • WE ARE KEEPING A SPORTS FIELD and have consulted with our residents and the City to optimize the location of the new sports field.
  • We worked with the City of Kelowna to construct a sports field in 1998, as part of the Partners in Parks program. Through this program, we allowed the City to use the land while the School District was considering the purchase option.
  • We knew that it would be some time before a decision was made, so using it in the interim as a sports field made sense.
  • Kettle Valley Holdings Ltd. benefited because the City of Kelowna cared for that portion of the property
  • The City benefitted from the ‘free’ ($1 a year lease) use of the land
  • Kettle Valley chose to take on the associated liabilities of public access to the adjacent private lands, in addition to funding the materials and construction for the field and the installation of irrigation systems
  • Our residents benefitted from this partnership and the creation of a sports field. Kettle Valley chose to take on the associated liabilities of public access to the adjacent private lands.

A New Sports Field - WE HAVE AGREED TO DONATE THE LAND

  • The largest concern within the circulating petition is the removal of the sports field.
  • Kettle Valley Holdings Ltd. has already agreed to donate land to the City for the development of a new sports field.
  • The sports field and associated parking/additional land proposed to be donated by Kettle Valley Holdings for Quilchena Park is 2.6ac
  • This is a decision that was made prior to the first public open house and subsequent feedback, because we too value the local sports field and the numerous activities it provides for.
  • The current soccer field was always slated to be moved to accommodate school development, driving access and parking.
  • The land that we have earmarked for donation is likely to be located adjacent to the very popular Quilchena Park, as discussed with the City, creating better access and could triple the availability of parking spaces.
  • The expanded public parking would also make it more accessible for those of all ranges of abilities
  • The new sports field would continue to accommodate sports clinics, community activities, and sports of all kinds.
  • Numerous new benefits will be realized at the field, such as tiered bank/amphitheatre seating to augment spectator view and allow better connection to parents watching their children, use of washrooms and outdoor movies

How Many Homes - 84 unit maximum

  • The current Area Structure Plan accounts for the construction of a maximum of 84 residential housing units on the property as noted in the development information presented in the initial open house.
  • Initial layouts showed all possibilities for locations of home styles under the current zoning. Some residents derived that there could be as many as 160 homes on the property. This is not true. No matter which home style is used, there will be a maximum of 84 residential units constructed on the property.
  • Higher density corresponds directly to an increase in open space when limited to 84 units.

Views/Covenants - protection

  • Covenants will restrict the type and height of dwellings to preserve views and character.
  • Height restrictions along rear yards with lake views and set-backs from property lines will be written into legal titles on each property in the development to preserve Lake views
  • No Build in addition to No Disturb covenants, ensuring no vegetation or any temporary structures disturb views, will be written into legal titles to ensure maintaining views

Road Congestion - reduction from approvals

  • Concerns over congestion have been provided to the City along with all survey information
  • The daily trip count accompanying the School Site was 700+ cars/day, did not include parking congestion in residential neighborhoods and was approved under the traffic study which permitted the development of all of Kettle Valley
  • The daily trip count from 84 dwellings is estimated under 200 cars/day, which is dramatically lower than the 700+ daily trip count that would have accompanied a secondary school on the same site.
  • This presents a potential reduction in approved trip counts by up to 2500/wk, reduces parking congestion in proximal streets
  • Congestion solutions are in place with the City of Kelowna which address the traffic issues added by subsequent development

School/More Children

  • SD 23 has been given all feedback from the public survey including comments regarding school capacities at Chute Lake and the desire for another school in Kettle Valley
  • SD 23 predicts the new middle school will alleviate pressure on Chute Lake Elementary and an announcement is expected shortly
  • The proposed school design was two stories with a full height gymnasium and eliminated lake views and provided for 300 paved parking stall with a traffic loop for bus and drop off.
  • School District 23 calculates and addresses capacity levels and the solutions necessary.
  • Although it is hard to have concrete numbers, we anticipate a maximum of 60 children living in this area of ages 5-17 at one time.
  • The capacity levels restrictions at Chute Lake Elementary have occurred, in large part, due to the surrounding developments which were approved much later than the Village of Kettle Valley Area Structure Plan

Walking/Dog walk

  • Additional lands are proposed to be donated to the City in the form of linear paths
  • These paths will be both soft surfaced (grass) and hard surfaced, separated from property lines, allowing for dog walking areas, increased open space continuous connectivity to Kettle Valley Parks and multi modal access

The Land

  • The parcel of land in question is not designated a park, nor has it ever been parkland.
  • The vacant land and temporary sports field has been slated for development since the founding of our community
  • School District 23 had an option to purchase the land. The SD23 option was up in 2012 and a two-year extension was granted; the option to purchase fully expired in 2014.
  • Were it not for the SD23 option, the land in question would have been developed much earlier in our community’s history.

The Ditch and Wildlife

  • The current open trench and sediment dams that collect water from the storm sewer should by no means be something associated with “informal non-perennial stream which also attracts seasonal wildlife”
  • We strongly encourage children NOT to play in it, as it may contain contaminants from runoff.
  • This ditch has always been identified as a future piped section by the City as hard surfacing for the school and associated fields were required.
  • The Village of Kettle Valley is located near the Johns Family Conservancy Park and the community itself boasts a number of beautiful parks, well exceeding any City requirements and tops the list of resident to parkland ration in any community in the City
  • The bank leading to the ditch is not public land and should not be used as a sledding area
  • The sloped area between Tulameen Park and Quilchena Park for Tobogganing, sledding and tubing. This space is a public area (part of Quilchena Park), specifically developed by the city for public use for sledding, tubing and tobogganing.

We welcome you to visit us at our Sales Centre, located at 5363 Jasper Way, just off of Mountainside Drive. You are also invited to give us a call at 250-764-2199 and we will be happy to address your concerns, so that you can be informed and share your feedback.