Jimsmith Lake Development News and Articles

Post date: Mar 15, 2013 4:22:44 PM

The Cranbrook Daily Townsman – November 5 2013

Jimsmith Lake development moves ahead

Eleven five-acre lots at southern end get support from RDEK

Sally MacDonald

Cranbrook Daily Townsman

Despite public opposition, the regional district has taken another step to approve a controversial development on Jimsmith Lake. The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) board of directors gave third reading on Friday, November 1 to what is known as the Daprocida development. The development would see a 25-hectare property on the southern end of the lake subdivided into 11 lots of two hectares (five acres) in size.

But residents of Jimsmith Lake sent letters and attended a public hearing to register their opposition to the development. “I strongly protest the proposed subdivision at Jimsmith Lake,” wrote one resident, Lynne Wlliams. “In addition to aesthetic safety and environmental concerns, the Daprocida subdivision does not reflect best use of the area for area residents. The area is prime recreational land and is used by many in the Cranbrook area and beyond for dog walking, cross country skiing, hiking, mountain biking, etc. It is an all-season recreation area within biking and walking distance of the city. “The water is used for swimming and boating and its quality will be affected by more septic fields in the area. The road is used like a sidewalk and increased traffic could affect those walking to the lake.” “The current proposed development would not only present a further threat to the existing diverse flora, fauna and wildlife in the area, it would add to the long term loss of quality of the lake water and wildlife habitat — something the people in the community strive to protect,” read another letter from Roberta Rodgers. In all, 30 letters were received about the development, 17 opposed, 12 in favour, and one from the developer’s agent. This is the second time the developer has come to the RDEK board for approval of the subdivision. In the original proposal, the lots were to be smaller — one hectare in size. Public opposition then forced the developer to withdraw.

Now, Board Chair and Area C Director Rob Gay says the subdivision should go ahead because the developer has made efforts to better suit the community. “I am in support of this. We asked to go back to five acres and the agent has done that for the developer,” said Gay. He also referred to covenants that would restrict those who purchase a lot in the development to only building on one acre of the five-acre parcel. “They are trying to consider the environment in that area,” said Gay. But the City of Cranbrook opposes the development, pointed out board director and Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski. “This is a difficult one. Certainly this proposal is an improvement from the last one, going back to two-hectare lots,” he said. “The challenge is, where do we draw the line in terms of cumulative impact on Jimsmith Lake, which is in pretty good condition currently? “It is difficult to know. Maybe we should have drawn the line a little earlier, in terms of the previous subdivision (Soaring Hawk). We hate to punish this one because cumulatively there is getting to be too much impact on the lake. But we don’t want to put the lake in a position of recovery rather than trying to keep it as natural as possible,” said Stetski.

In the end the board voted to give third reading to the bylaw amendment, with directors Stetski, Cranbrook Councillor Bob Whetham, Canal Flats Mayor Ute Juras and Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko opposed.

The final decision to adopt the bylaw amendment is likely to be made by the board at its next meeting in December.

Click here to see The Townsmen article from November 5 2013 as a snapshot from the paper

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Jimsmith development moving ahead - October 07, 2013 7:50 AM

By Sally MacDonald - Cranbrook Daily Townsman

Published: October 07, 2013 7:50 AM

Updated: October 07, 2013 7:50 AM

A controversial development at Jimsmith Lake has taken another step through the Regional District of East Kootenay board of directors.

An 11-lot subdivision at the southeastern edge of the lake was given two readings by the board on Friday, October 4. A public hearing will be held later this month before the board agrees the subdivision can proceed.

Originally proposed last year, the development faced significant opposition from the Jimsmith community due to its one-hectare lots.

But the developer withdraw that application and came back to the regional district with a new plan for 11 two-hectare (five-acre) lots on the 25-hectare property.

"I heard lots from the community the first time; I've heard nothing from the community this time. I know the word's out there because I put the word out there," said Chair Rob Gay. "I don't think it's the end of the world with five-acre lots. I think they'll be developed properly."

"It's in keeping with our land use plans and they've met the requirements we asked for."

The property doesn't connect with the lake shore and is separated by a strip of Crown land. A one-acre corner of the property will stay as a park, and the developer intends to register a covenant that will not allow building, tree removal or earth moving on that piece of land.

The 11 lots will have individual wells and septic systems. On each lot, buildings must be kept to a one-acre envelope, retaining four acres in its natural state.

For each lot that is sold, the developer will give $900 to the regional district for roads and community infrastructure such as pathways.

However, Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski voted against the development, joined by Canal Flats Mayor Ute Juras and Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko.

"Cranbrook city council considered this and voted no. The reason for that was a cumulative impact concern for Jimsmith Lake as a whole," said Stetski.

A public hearing on the Daprocida development will be held on Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m. at the Regional District of East Kootenay's Cranbrook office.

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Jimsmith development faces opposition

By Sally MacDonald - Cranbrook Daily Townsman

Published: April 11, 2013 8:00 AM

Updated: April 11, 2013 8:40 AM

A proposed development at Jimsmith Lake was given first reading by the regional district last week, despite opposition by both Cranbrook directors and a community group.

The Daprocida development covers 54 acres on the south end of Jimsmith Lake. The developer has applied for an amendment to the Regional District of East Kootenay's (RDEK) Rockyview official community plan to rezone and subdivide the property into 17 residential lots. Fifteen of the lots will between one hectare and 1.5 hectares in size; the remaining two lots will be two hectares. A park will be maintained on 1.9 hectares of the property.

On Thursday, April 4, the RDEK's planning committee heard from a consultant for the developer who outlined the proposed zoning changes. The developer agreed to place several restrictions on the property, protecting the piece of land intended for park use, promising not to remove a band of trees along the north and south boundaries that protect the existing views from adjacent properties, and contributing $1,175 per lot to the RDEK for road maintenance in the City of Cranbrook and future trail development in the Jimsmith area.

Area C director Rob Gay, who looks after that area, was satisfied with the development agreement, as was the majority of the board, and it was given first reading and sent to the public consultation stage during the Friday, April 5 meeting.

But five of the 15 directors were opposed to the development: Cranbrook's Mayor Wayne Stetski and Coun. Bob Whetham, Canal Flats Mayor Ute Juras, Sparwood Mayor Lois Halko, and Elkford Mayor Dean McKerracher.

Mayor Stetski said the development goes against the three-year-old Rockyview Official Community Plan (OCP).

"It's also in conflict with the Cranbrook OCP, Jimsmith Lake Community Association presented their displeasure with this proposal, the Area C advisory planning commission have mutually agreed that one-hectare lots are not appropriate. It does encourage sprawl, it doesn't encourage smart growth which I think should be of importance to this table," said Stetski.

Coun. Whetham said that regional district staff put in a great deal of time and effort to put together the Rockyview OCP.

"Plans do need to be amended from time to time as circumstances change or plans become out of date. But nothing has been brought forward to suggest that is the case here," said Whetham.

"The public was already consulted during the development of the plan and the advisory planning commission has confirmed this direction. It should not be necessary for affected residents and landowners to have to spend more time and resources to try and convince the RDEK board to maintain its adopted policies. I don't believe this is a necessary step, and I really think it is a discredit to all the time and effort that went into preparing this plan in the first place."

A public hearing on the development will be held on Tuesday, April 23 at 7 p.m. at the RDEK board room in Cranbrook.

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