Image: District of Summerland
Summerland council has voted down a 22-lot subdivision proposed for Trout Creek.
Rikhi Development Corporation was planning to subdivide the vacant piece of land on the corner of Wharf Street and Nixon Road.
Following a second public hearing on the development Tuesday night, Summerland council voted 3-3 on the rezoning, which is considered a defeat.
During the public hearing, residents came forward expressing their concerns, most commonly around traffic and parking.
Coun. Erin Carlson liked the proposed project.
“It looks to me like we’re not talking about a person showing up, buying a piece of property and building monster homes on it, the way that some of the other developments down there (Trout Creek) appear to have gone,” Coun. Carlson said. “We’re talking about someone who has lived in that community for a very long time and respects their neighbours and is trying to do something good for the neighbourhood.”
“There needs to be a positive solution and a positive development where people can see that this can be done properly.”
Council did agree to pass a motion changing the lot’s designation in the Official Community Plan from agricultural to residential, but balked at a full rezoning and approval for the particular development.
Councillors Toni Boot, Erin Trainer and Doug Holmes voiced opposition to the plan due to its density and the possibility that the zoning would allow carriage houses on the lots.
“I think that the developer did talk to the neighbourhood and they did get quite a bit of feedback,” Trainer said. ““I think there is definitely potential there, it just needs a little bit more work.”
The developer will be able to restructure the development and bring it back to council, or can wait six months and try again with the same proposal, according to Mayor Peter Waterman.
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