A townhome development between Peanut Lake and Highway 3 has been given the required bylaw amendments from Osoyoos town council. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

A large townhome development near Peanut Lake now has official approval from council to move forward.

At their July 2 meeting, Osoyoos town council voted to adopt an amendment to the official community plan and a zoning amendment that will allow Chilliwack-based developers Precision Building Design to move forward with the project at 9110 and 9120 Main Street, between the lake and Highway 3.

In December, following a public hearing, council granted third reading to a slightly different proposal; instead of 47 units, 14 with basement suites, the development will now have 54 units and up to 28 basement suites.

The proposal also includes a “ring road” that residents can access from Vedette Drive and will circle through the subdivision. The original proposal included access from Vedette Drive, but with three roads in the subdivision and two cul-de-sac turnarounds. Access from Main Street will only be available for emergency vehicles.

Director of Planning and Development Services Gina MacKay told council that the developer has already given the town $200,000 for improvements to Vedette Drive, estimated to cost $400,000.

A sketch provided to Osoyoos town council shows a revised road plan for a planned townhome development near Peanut Lake. (Town of Osoyoos)

Coun. C. J. Rhodes shared concern for the development’s proximity to Peanut Lake.

“How is that development going to protect that very, very environmentally sensitive area down there?” he said. “I’m talking about the residents when they live there and somebody’s changing their vehicle oil in the driveway, how that’s going to stop from leeching into the lake?”

MacKay said the town has a subdivision control and servicing bylaw that will protect the Lake.

“It has very stringent guidelines we absolutely enforce when it comes to oil water separators and making sure the environmental concerns are addressed,” she said. “That’s high on our list; we’re well aware of it and so is the developer in this case.”

• Read more: Duplex development raises some concerns at public hearing

Coun. Brian Harvey was the only to vote against the amendments and said he would like to see a more in-depth plan before moving forward.

Mayor Sue McKortoff asked if the developer had a timeline for the project.

No specific dates have been determined, but MacKay said the developer plans to start building soon.

“It’s rare that you see a developer hand you $200,000 if they’re not planning to move ahead, and quite swiftly,” she said.