(Submitted photo/Mel Rothenburger).

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Rose Hill – the ‘broken trust’ between a community and City Hall

Mar 27, 2021 | 6:55 AM

THE TOP OF ROSE HILL is very different from what you might have seen the last time you drove up there. The area immediately south of the original subdivision — at the point Rose Hill Road makes a couple of hairpin turns, crests the steep incline and levels out onto the farmland leading toward Knutsford — looks like a quarry right now.

The loss of fir trees on the site symbolizes the changes that have residents of the original subdivision worried. As they view the bare hillside above them, listen to the rock blasting and watch as nearby Juniper Ridge expands westward in their direction, they see the serenity of their community under threat.

The single-family area of Rose Hill was built during the ‘70s as High Country Estates (now commonly called Rose Hill or Rosehill after the larger grassland area up on the plateau), a secluded cluster of executive homes with spectacular views of the valley. Many of the big evergreen trees were kept. Country-style living close to town. It’s remained that way, a community all its own, until now.

Just around the corner, 30 hectares on two titles, called Rose Hill Estates, has been under consideration for development for a long time. Finally, three years ago, A&T Project Developments approached the City with plans for a subdivision of 58 lots (later increased to 65) ranging from 11,000 to 20,000 square feet.

At a public hearing on rezoning back then, A&T rep Frank Quinn said mature trees within the subdivision would be protected. A&T is no longer involved but a new owner has work well underway, and the moonscape-like appearance of the new development is in sharp contrast to the wooded High Country Estates.

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Education - another trouble spot

3h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: The highs and lows of Kamloops council

May 09, 2025

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: May 8, 2025

May 08, 2025

An old aerial photo of the property shows an extensive tree canopy that appears to be mostly gone now.

Len Noort of New Westminster’s Noort Homes, which bought the property from A&T, says the steepness of the property makes it a tough one to develop, and trees had to make way for roads and lots, but the plan has been followed.

If it wasn’t, he told me this week, “that would be serious trouble.”

Though a “clearing and grubbing” plan outlining where vegetation was to be removed was approved by the City last May, the City’s control over tree removal in new developments is limited.

Marvin Kwiatkowski, the City’s development director, says the subdivision plan did provide for retention of mature trees and the ones that were to be kept were marked. He pointed out the plan calls for an open-space corridor within the subdivision and it’s been left undisturbed but, he acknowledged, “some developers keep more trees” than others.

A $27,000 fine dished out to a Juniper Ridge resident for pollarding seven City trees to improve his view didn’t escape the notice of Rose Hill residents. Why was he nailed but a developer is allowed to take out so many?

The answer is that the City’s tree bylaw doesn’t apply to new development, says Kwiatkowski.

And then there’s the issue of subdivision creep. An unrelated application to develop 45 single-family lots on the western edge of Juniper will come up at a public hearing Tuesday and Rose Hill folks see it as another step toward lifestyle disruption.

A staff report says community plan amendments needed for the development would “provide for the logical extension of existing subdivisions in Juniper West, provide connectivity to a potential school site, and are consistent with the growth projections outlined in KamPlan.”

Most of the opposition to the proposal is coming from Rose Hill residents and includes a batch of letters and a 112-signature petition.

Objections centre on an eventual paved road connection between Juniper and Rose Hill and the impacts linear infill would have on their lifestyle — increases in traffic, interruptions to wildlife, drop in property values, destruction of green space, even the glare of streetlights. The two communities, they point out, are very different, and should stay separated.

“To allow the passing of this proposed rezoning application would be a tragic mistake with irreversible and significant detrimental long-term consequences for the residents and infrastructure of Rosehill,” writes Stephen Faraday in a letter to the City.

But “The reality is, we’ll need another connection,” says Kwiatkowski.

True, Juniper has only one road access but why not expand east and build another connection down to Valleyview, residents ask.

Must progress and development mean the loss of the uniqueness of a community? The High Country Neighbourhood Society expresses concerns about retaining “the unique nature and character of our family-friendly suburban neighbourhood.”

And that’s the crux of the matter.

“Kamloops is a desirable and liveable city because of its diverse communities. Ours is one of those that contribute to the city’s uniqueness. Why destroy it?” say Ray and Toshi Chatelin in another letter.

Resident Cheryl Johnson told me, “We realize development is going to happen but this ‘infill’ attitude the City has is destroying the beauty of Kamloops….”

And, as resident Michael Phelps puts it, “There’s a sense of betrayal and broken trust in the community now.”

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.