After more than two decades of community concern, Lake Country council is moving forward with a plan that could finally provide a second emergency exit for the Copper Hill neighbourhood.
On June 17, council gave first reading to Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaw amendments that would pave the way for the expansion of the Eldorado Ranch lands south of the existing development.
The development plan, submitted by Eldorado Ranch Ltd., would rezone around 25 hectares of land to allow a mix of residential housing, light industrial, open space, and institutional uses. The proposal also includes dedicating a portion of land to the district for future community use.
But the most immediate, and long-awaited benefit, is a new collector road extending Sherman Drive to McCarthy Road designed to serve as both a permanent access route and emergency exit for the Clearwater–Copper Hill area.
The district currently has a handshake agreement with the property owners to use a trail as a backup route, but staff told council this isn’t reliable or safe in the event of a wildfire or other emergency.
Mayor Blair Ireland acknowledged just how overdue the emergency access is.
“I can understand the frustration of people living up there,” he said. “We’ve not been able to get this done. Planning for the area started under the regional district—it wasn’t even Lake Country.”
A rough-graded version of the road will be used for construction traffic and available as an emergency exit if needed. The road will eventually be fully paved and available for public use.
Ireland noted that the Copper Hill neighbourhood isn’t alone.
“We need to do something everywhere there is an issue with fire, and we’re going to be working hard to do that.”
While council unanimously supported the project’s first reading, councillor Cara Reed raised concerns about the zoning changes near residential areas.
“I’m concerned it would then lead to heavy industrial development,” she said. “That’s not what staff are suggesting, or should be the preferred solution, and I don’t think it would be what residents would want.”
Although the development only permits light industrial uses, Reed wanted additional safeguards added in second reading to better protect residential areas from unwanted industrial activity.
Ireland noted it’s early in the process, and staff will engage with the developer to address concerns before the next stage.
The plan must also go to a public hearing before any final decision is made.
