A report to Peachland council shows there may be some work to do regarding emergency accesses in the community.
Urban Systems presented the Transportation Servicing Plan (TSP) to council at its Mar. 12 meeting. The report, which was done in 2023, builds on previous reports and studies dating back to 2004.
It identified two areas at risk of having too few emergency accesses under existing development conditions. They are Bulyea Avenue, west of the intersection of Lipsett Avenue and Heighway Lane, and Ponderosa Drive.
According to the report, both areas exceed the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) threshold, and additional accesses should be considered to adhere to NFPA requirements.
It also identifies three areas that may exceed NFPA standards with future development. They are Princeton Ave. east of and including Sanderson and Vernon avenues, Clements Crescent, and the New Monaco development proposed between Highways 97 and 97C.
The TSP also looked at four main corridors in the district. Those are Princeton Ave., Renfrew Road, Trepanier Bench Rd., and Ponderosa Drive.
The report includes dozens of recommendations including sidewalk and curb upgrades, enhanced transit stops, zebra crosswalks, road upgrades, sightline improvements, signage, and multi-use paths.
鈥淭his lays down a good framework on what developers can expect and what they are going to be expected to do,鈥� said Coun. Alena Glasman.
Mayor Patrick Van Minsel added he is also anxiously awaiting the water and sewer master plans from staff.
鈥淥nce we have those together with this it gives us a total image of what we need to do for the future,鈥� he said.
Council wanted to adopt the TSP as presented rather than for information as staff recommended.
However, Chief Administrative Officer Joe Creron cautioned that adopting the plan meant everything in it would have to be completed.
鈥淭his is a dynamic document that will take years to do,鈥� he added. 鈥淪omebody could then come to us and say 鈥榥o council adopted that, you to gotta do this now.鈥�
Creron pointed out that it鈥檚 up to council to decide what projects are approved. Council ultimately voted to receive the report as a 鈥榞uide for district planning purposes.鈥�
The full report is available on the District of Peachland website.
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