Sun Peaks Independent News - Vol 16 Issue 12

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VOLUME 16 ISSUE 12

NOVEMBER 30 — DECEMBER 20, 2018

SUNPEAKSNEWS.COM // @SUNPEAKSNEWS

NANCY GREENE RAINE INDUCTED INTO TOURISM HALL OF FAME WHAT’S NEW IN THE VILLAGE PAGE 5 PAGE 7

Back to where it began

The rise of the West Village

AS SUN PEAKS EXPANDS THE WEST VILLAGE IS BECOMING A HUB ONCE AGAIN. Photo Spin

JEAN STRONG

THE WEST VILLAGE IS WHERE THE SEED THAT SPROUTED SUN PEAKS WAS PLANTED. AS THE COMMUNITY GREW IT SEEMED SOMEWHAT LEFT BEHIND, AN AREA FOR LONG TIME LOCALS OR STAFF AT THE EDGE OF THE VILLAGE. But as one project after another is announced in the area, eyes have turned to the West Village as a place for growth in the place where it all began. Meghan Kolodka has lived in Sun Peaks for eight years and she

and her partner are now raising a family of their own. After having a child they felt the squeeze in their current home and were looking for something larger but still affordable they could grow into. That led them to purchasing a home in one of Sun Peaks’ newest developments, Peaks West. “We needed a garage,” Kolodka said. “We have an expanding family and with that comes more stuff and we need space to put it. The price is right, it’s the most affordable we’ve seen here for a while.” They’re also looking forward to the change of pace being just outside of the core of the resort

and near family and friends. “I’m very excited, my sister and her fiance are right across from us and one of my best friends will be sharing a wall.” Kolodka and her friends aren’t the only locals drawn to the two and three bedroom condos. Of both sold out phases, 46 per cent of buyers are from Kamloops or Sun Peaks and another 36 per cent are from elsewhere in B.C. Only six per cent of buyers were international. Darcy Franklin, developer of Peaks West and owner of Meranti Developments, built his first duplex on Burfield Dr. in 2016 and has since completed three more multi-family homes. As a long

term resident he saw what the area could be. “For years there has always been a stigma attached to Burfield, it was seen as the other side of the tracks. It has traditionally been owned by long time ‘Toddies’... When we started looking we really saw the potential for families,” he said. The lot had been on the market for years but zoning that allowed for residential or commercial development made it attractive to the partners. With construction underway the first phase should be complete in November 2019. Twelve thousand square feet of commercial space will also be built on the ground floor and leased out by Peaks West Properties. “We receive enquiries (for commercial space) every day,” Franklin said. “There’s tons of interest and lots of ideas...we wanted that commercial space to anchor the development.” It isn’t the only place in the West Village attracting long term residents. This year a group of Burfield homeowners came together to collaborate on projects, with up to 40 owners attending meetings. One of the first goals was cleaning up two lots owned by the east and west ends of the street. At the west end of the street the lot was cleared to create a space for biking, where kids are now seen playing all day. Now owners of the east end have plans to remove abandoned vehicles and make a community space. Member Rob O’Toole said

they plan to have it surveyed before getting rid of garbage and controlling access. “We’ve talked about different ideas like a park, we’d love to see if we can do something like that with a play structure and picnic tables.” “It’s quieter now,” O’Toole said about living on the street. “But it’s quieter at different times of the day. It’s quiet at 10 or 11 p.m. but not quieter on Sunday at 3 p.m., that’s the dynamic now.” But growing pains have come alongside improvement. On Burfield Dr. some homeowners could face paying for utility upgrades as illegal suites were added over the years, putting stress on water and wastewater systems. Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality (SPMRM) Mayor Al Raine said before municipal incorporation many people built homes that weren’t within code or zoning. “A lot of people were supposed to build duplexes, then a lot of the duplexes became fourplexes,” Raine said. “That was not in the original zoning.” SPMRM hosted a public meeting and asked homeowners with issues to identify themselves and work to bring additions to code. Only one homeowner has come forward. “The only way forward is to legalize those that meet code... there is going to be a day of reckoning. If they don’t meet code...that’s ugly,” Raine said, adding illegal additions may have to be removed or blocked off.