City of Vernon Council received a presentation on January 22, 2018 on preliminary development concepts for the 20 acre McMechan reservoir site located at 901 39 Avenue. Vernon Reservoir Developments Ltd. and their design team, including Bluegreen Architecture - the architecture firm behind The Outback development, presented a neighbourhood concept with approximately 170 homes, a new park and trail system and walkable streets designed to slow automobile traffic while encouraging travel by foot and by bike.
A variety of housing types are proposed for the new neighbourhood, including single family homes on small lots, duplexes, townhouses and rowhouses. Secondary suites and carriage home options are included to act as mortgage helpers and to provide more rental housing in the city. The vision of the proposed development was guided by Vernon’s Official Community Plan (OCP).
After hearing the presentation, Council supported the concepts being presented to the public both on Engage Vernon (engagevernon.ca) and at a public Open House on January 31, 2018 from 4pm-7pm at the Vernon Recreation Centre (3310 37 Avenue).
The City was approached in April 2017 by the developer regarding the City-owned lands. The site was previously used as a water reservoir for Greater Vernon Water and was decommissioned in 2006. Since that time, the City has explored a variety of ways to prepare the site for sale and development, all of which required the City to make a significant investment. The sale to Vernon Reservoir Developments Ltd., for just under $6.5 million, requires the developer to apply to rezone the land and obtain a phased development agreement. The developer will undertake all of the engineering, planning and site preparation necessary for development.
“The development concepts for this site address many of the things Vernon residents have told us they want to see in their community, including more parks, better trail connectivity and more types of housing to choose from,” said Mayor Mund. “We look forward to hearing the ideas that the community brings forward to make this neighbourhood even better.”