Council will ask the developer of a contentious housing development in the community to scale back the project.
The proposal is to build a 72-unit development at 6575 and 6650 Renfrew Road.
READ MORE: Traffic safety concerns for Peachland council over housing development
Residents in the area are concerned about the number of units, traffic safety, emergency access and road infrastructure.
A protest march against the project was held earlier this month, and the same concerns were voiced at a public hearing in April.
Coun. Keith Thom said he likes the project and understands the concerns of residents.
“The developer, I think, stepped up to the plate on a few of the concerns from the public.”
Several councillors said while they like the development, 72 single and multi-family homes in the area were too many.
One of the biggest concerns from residents, and council, is that Renfrew Road is in serious need of upgrades, as well as safety improvements where it intersects with Highway 97.
The developer has agreed to contribute $100,000 to upgrades and the district has an agreement with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure for the safety improvements.
“The question is how do you get that improvement, and you don’t get it without development,” said Coun. David Collins. “This is a vehicle for getting the funds to improve that road.”
Collins added Renfrew must be upgraded along with the development.
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel pointed out that Renfrew Rd. is not currently in the Development Cost Charges (DCC) program, where monies can be used for road infrastructure.
“We have an upcoming DCC program review,” he said. “Where we will put that road into this program, so we can use those monies for it.”
Council voted unanimously to defer third reading to rezone the property until staff can speak with the developer about reducing the project to 60 units.
READ MORE: Potential district funding for Peachland HUB still unkown
@GaryBarnes109
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