An illustrative concept plan of the new development by the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre. (Image Credit: Placemark Design + Development via City of Kamloops)

By Victor Kaisar

New Neighbourhood Plans

Proposed 1,350-unit housing development adjacent to KRCC moving to public hearing

Dec 12, 2025 | 8:00 AM

KAMLOOPS — A proposal for a new mixed-use neighbourhood adjacent to the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre has taken a step forward.

At Tuesday’s (Dec. 9) meeting, Kamloops council voted 8-0 to allow the proposal that seeks to rezone 36 hectares of land so as many as 1,350 housing units can be built to go to a public hearing.

“That number, the applicants recently indicated that it might be a little bit optimistic with that and that it might be closer to the 950 to 1,000-unit range, which is more likely to occur on the property,” said Rod Martin, the city’s planning and development manager.

“They’re also proposing neighbourhood commercial, an industrial park, a neighbourhood park and greenways connecting to the adjacent Kenna Cartwright Nature Park.”

Martin also told councillors that specific plans for the development — including the density — will be defined in future rezoning applications.

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“An additional opportunity for public consultation will be provided through the required public hearing process for this OCP plan amendment application,” Martin said. “A future rezoning application may at council’s discretion also require a public hearing.”

Martin also told council that while this land was initially slated for future industrial development, it has some steeper areas that aren’t easy to develop as industrial.

“[The developers] came in with the idea of putting residential on those,” Martin added.

While some councillors briefly raised concerns around urban sprawl and infrastructure costs that could reach $100-million, Deputy Corporate Officer Denise Anderson advised them that provincial guidelines require they keep an open mind going into a public hearing.

“I would caution any of you to vote against this. We are just looking at allowing the statutory requirements for a public hearing to occur,” said Anderson. “I’m not saying you have to support it after the public hearing. I can’t make that decision for any of you.”

“[Publicly speaking for or against it now] may be seen as prejudging the matter and violating the requirement for an open mind. At this point, you should be looking at this with an open mind. If you’re not, then I would suggest there’s the possibility that that person would be barred from the public hearing.”

A date for the public hearing has not yet been set, though the next two are scheduled to take place on Jan. 13, 2026 and Feb. 3, 2026.

Councillor Mike O’Reilly recused himself from this discussion and the vote, as he heads up the company developing the nearby Iron Mask Light Industrial Park.