The Edinburgh Resort Corporation is hoping to develop another 22 lots in Aberdeen (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

KAMPLAN AMENDMENT

New lots proposed for Aberdeen part of city’s plan for future growth

Jun 24, 2020 | 5:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — Construction on Bentall Drive and Edinburgh Boulevard is the newest hot spot in the expansion of Aberdeen. Several new single-family homes are being built in the area.

Now the developer, Edinburgh Resort Corporation, is looking to open up more lots to expand the Aberdeen community further west. A proposed 22-lot development is going to a public hearing on July 14 with an application to rezone from agriculture to single-family residential lots.

“There’s a small component within there for a rezone for 22 lots, so that’s really a continuation of development that’s been going on in recent years,” said City of Kamloops Director of Development, Engineering and Sustainability Marvin Kwiatkowski.

But on a broader scale, the city is now amending the Official Community Plan (Kamplan), not only to accomodate for more single-family lots by Edinburgh Resort Corporation — a 50-50 split with multi-family versus only 30 per cent single-family. There are other key changes to the community plan as well.

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“I think the key component to talk about is some of the changes that have happened since 2008 [original Aberdeen neighbourhood plan]. One is in regard to the school district and school sites,” noted Kwiatkowski. “That wasn’t incorporated into that plan. That’s now incorporated. It shows a site there. It’s approximately 10 acres for an elementary school.”

As part of the Kamplan, the City says the southwest sector, which includes Aberdeen, will be responsible for 43 per cent of the city’s growth in the next 25 years. More than 2,500 units are expected to be built in the southwest sector.

Another developer, Aberdeen Highlands Development, plans for another 100 to 150 single-family lots — as well as 150-units worth of multi-family developments — along Linfield Drive in the next couple years.

“As you go down to the end of Linfield, there’s a gate there and there’s some open space there, and then beyond the open space, where the back nine of the old [Aberdeen] golf course was, that whole area. So there’s about another 50 acres of land there,” said Chris Bebek from Aberdeen Highlands Development.

Aberdeen Highlands had hoped to be started on development of some lots already, but says it needs more help from the City in regards to servicing roads.

“Some cooperation on how those services can be provided that are adequate for what the development needs,” noted Bebek. “We certainly would like to see the infrastructure through to Pineview. We need some sanitary and storm connections.”

At his media conference on Wednesday, however, Mayor Ken Christian said unequivocally the city and taxpayers should not have to subsidize the work of developers.

“The city is not in the business, nor should the city be in the business, of replacing the private sector,” said Christian. “If she’s having difficulty with the costs of the road network, the water, the sewer and everything, she needs to adjust her pricing in terms of making that profitable.”

As for the lots in the new Edinburgh neighbourhood of Aberdeen, the hope is they can be developed this year or next year at the latest.