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Hearing upcoming for Kimberley Crossing
By Nowell Berg
At the August 8 City of Kimberley council meeting, Mr. Larry Gwaltney and his wife Margaret made a presentation opposing the proposed zoning changes for the Kimberley Crossing development.
This development proposes a 132-unit seniors housing development on land south of Highway 95A and 305th Street between Mark Creek and the Kimberley Golf Club.
The Gwaltney’s have lived at their present address on 305th Street for 39 years. The couple opposes the large number of units in the development due to traffic concerns. Golf club traffic uses the same road (302 Street), along with existing residents, they said.
Gwaltney indicated that twice in years past council voted not to allow further development of the land due to increased traffic and safety concerns.
“Its a bad corner with lots of traffic. There is only one way in and one way out,” he said.
According to Gwaltney adding 100 to 200 new vehicles entering and exiting from 302 Street onto or off of Highway 95A would create a dangerous traffic situation.
While sympathizing with the developer, Mrs. Gwaltney said the land was “over-populated and congested.”
Philip Salgado, Kimberley Crossing proponent, was candid in his comments about the proposed change to an already city approved development for the land. Salgado said he shares Gwaltney’s traffic concerns, “Without a doubt we want to address traffic issues, we see that as a concern as well,” he said.
The corner on Highway 95A is a sharp left turn onto the bridge over Mark Creek and 302nd Street spurs off from the elbow of the curve. For Salgado, “its not completely a developer’s issue; its an administration issue, a town issue, its a Ministry of Highways issue, its a little bit out of my control.”
He said he has spoken with the mayor and town administration about “the need to make improvements to the highway and try to make that corner safer.”
“We’re trying to do something that is a net benefit to the whole community,” Salgado said.
Salagdo plans to hold a public open house August 21 at Bootleg Gap to present information on the proposed zoning changes and how they will reduce peak traffic compared to the existing development plan.
“What we’re trying to do is something that is better and emphasize less peak traffic. We’re dealing with an older demographic, a senior market. A portion of that [population] doesn’t drive at all,” he said.
Proposed Bylaw No. 2545 is a zoning amendment for the Kimberley Crossing land. City of Kimberley information reveals “the proposed development concept for the subject property is a campus-of-care aging-in-place facility that involves a mix of seniors and supportive housing units, two-family dwelling units and accessory health consulting and treatment services.”
According to Troy Pollock, Manager, Planning Services, City of Kimberley, “a public hearing [on this matter] will be held at the beginning of the Aug. 22 regular [council] meeting.”
Get detailed information on this issue from the city here.
Lead image: The Mark Creek Bridge and sharp Highway 95A curve before 302nd Street.
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