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Kamloops  

Adjustments to massive Aberdeen development approved

Aberdeen project approved

Dozens of Kamloops residents got to experience the new temporary council chambers Tuesday night (July 14) as they showed up to discuss the pros and cons around an update to a development plan in Aberdeen.

The massive project involves seven land titles, new roads, the creation of 22 single-family lots, a location for a new school and the potential of multiple multi-family projects along with commercial properties. Overflow seats were needed in the Sandman Centre as the maximum number of people was reached in the attached First Valley Lounge (which is under 50, due to COVID-19 precautions).

Council approved the project updates unanimously, but not before a number of people raised concerns about it.

The first time the area was planned as a development project was in 2008; it was included in the Aberdeen Plan at that time and also in future versions of the Official Community Plan (OCP). That plan needed to be altered, and to a large enough extent, alterations to the OCP are needed, according to the applicant.

Chris Crowell, with True Consulting, the company putting the application forward, spoke at the public hearing about the consulting process that developed the new plan.

"We believe the changes being presented are improvements," he said.

Not all agreed. Correspondence to the city on the project was split, with 10 supporting it, seven opposed and four bringing up concerns. At the meeting, 15 people spoke against it or raised concerns (though not all were from the neighbourhood); of those, three raised concerns with one of the companies behind the project.

Nine spoke in favour of the project, including Crowell; all but one of those in favour identified as small business owners working in construction, with many commenting on the difficulty of finding lots to build houses on and linking it to rising housing costs in the city.

Those who raised concerns about the project focused on a couple of key issues: groundwater, traffic, the school location (and walkability) and the green spaces in the area.

Clint Marshall noted that with changes to the traffic pattern, there may be increased vehicle traffic at Pacific Way Elementary. Others, like Rob Higgins (a resident of the area and member of a low-carbon transportation group), raised questions on how the green spaces, including a wildlife corridor, connect.

The most common issue raised was that of groundwater, a perennial topic in Aberdeen.

When the time came to vote, Coun. Kath Sinclair noted that while the project isn't perfect, she believes Kamloops will be better off.

"I do believe it helps achieve the goals of KAMPLAN," she said.

Speaking after the meeting with Castanet, Mayor Ken Christian said the concerns raised were heard by council and staff and won't be forgotten, adding that the city is very much aware of ground water issues.

"Most of those would be sorted out at a later stage of the development process," he said.



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