By Nowell Berg
The City of Kimberley August 22 held a public hearing into the proposed zoning amendment for the Kimberley Crossing development in Marysville.
Mayor Don McCormick read out a prepared statement outlining the hearing process. He emphasized the each person would be given five minutes to state their opinion on the proposed changes. He also indicated that no decision would be made at this meeting. City council will deliberate on all opinions and information received from the public hearing and administration, then make a decision at a later date.
The Kimberley Crossing zoning amendment bylaw requires approval from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) prior to the city rendering its decision. MOTI approval is required because the subject land is within 800m of a controlled access highway (Highway 95A).
Key elements of the proposed bylaw amendment include:
• deletion of multiple family dwellings and the addition of seniors’ and supportive housing as permitted housing types;
• addition of health consulting and treatment services as permissible accessory uses;
• increase to the maximum permissible number of units from 65 to 132;
• the maximum permitted height of a building containing senior’s or supportive housing units is restricted to 15.24 m (50 ft.); and
• deletion of the affordable housing and community amenity requirements.
Full details on the proposed Bylaw amendments along with site maps and architectural drawings can be found here. https://kimberley.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/31305?preview=38609
In total, five people spoke to this issue. Council also received three written submissions.
The first speaker was John Birrell, President of the Kimberley Golf Club (KGC). Birrell indicated the club was supportive of providing more senior housing in Kimberley. He, along with other speakers, pointed out concerns regarding the intersection, particularly for traffic moving east to west and trying to turn left onto 305th Street off of Highway 95A. The last point raised by Birrell concerns the KGC maintenance parking lot that would be adjacent to the proposed seniors campus­-of-­care. Birrell indicated the lot is used from 5:30 a.m. until early evening seven days a week during the golf season. The lot is also used as an “over­flow” parking lot for club members and guests when the upper lot is full. He wanted to make sure future residents would be made aware of the potential for noise coming from the lot.
Councilor Albert Hoglund asked Birrell if the KGC would consider changing the golf course access. Birrell indicated the KGC would consider that option, depending on where any new access would be located.
The second speaker was Sally Labounty who rents a home in that area. Labountey is opposed to the bylaw change citing increased traffic. She also feels the current road would not handle more cars and trucks. She said the corner in question was a “dangerous intersection.” While she supported the idea of more senior housing, she also stated, “not on this property.”
The next speaker was Mr. Larry Gwaltney and his wife Margaret, who made a presentation to council at the August 8 meeting. Again, the couple opposed the bylaw changes because of increased traffic and the “dangerous” intersection with Highway 95A. Until the intersection was dealt with, the Gwaltney’s would not support the new development or bylaw amendment.
Lee Hughes spoke against the Bylaw amendment, also citing the “bad intersection” and the current road [30th Street] being less than two lanes wide with limited expansion options.
Philip Salgado, developer of Kimberley Crossing, used his five minutes to present three key points.
1 – Interior Health has indicated there is a shortfall of over 300 senior’s beds in the East Kootenay;
2 – The economic benefit from the development that will employ 60 people, plus contract for food, custodial and landscaping;
3 – The public should be aware that the land is already approved for 65 multi­family units that would add more cars on the road compared to the senior’s health campus­of­care option;
Salgado reiterated a previous statement, “Without a doubt we want to address traffic issues, we see that as a concern as well. We’re trying to do something that is a net benefit to the whole community.”
Public records show that of the three letters written to Council as part of the public hearing, two were opposed to the Bylaw changes and one was supportive. One opposition letter from Terry and Lynda Gall pointed out that in winter “the highway access is seldom plowed or sanded. Snowbanks have been high enough to obstruct a safe visual field.” Gall indicated it can take up to three days after a snow event before any action is taken to plow 305th Street.
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