Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
Preserving trees and addressing the water table are two issues of note in the proposed Station Street Plaza project in Oliver.
Landscape architect Matthew Thomson presented a report to council on May 9 outlining the plaza’s preliminary design, which includes a phased-in pavilion, retail space, green space, pathway, destination playground and salmon observation deck.
The plaza will be situated on the former Centennial RV Park site adjacent to the Coast Hotel.
Thomson said a key potential amenity will be a restaurant (an expansion of the hotel) to “energize” the plaza.
Randy Houle, Oliver’s director of development services, said he spoke to the hotel owner who indicated they are ready to build the restaurant but just need a tenant. He added there is a temporary plan to have food trucks adjacent to the plaza.
Another key component that connects with the Okanagan River is the interpretive salmon viewing deck, which will be a “catalyst” to share stories, Thomson pointed out.
The architect said the plaza will be located between the higher elevation of Station Street and the lower elevation of the park. He added the vision is to make it barrier free and universally accessible.
Thomson said the Adirondack chairs at the plaza will be tethered by a cable to stop them from walking away at the whim of thieves.
Councillor Petra Veintimilla referred to a previous study indicating that none of the trees in the area would be saved.
But Thomson said they are optimistic that the new plaza design will preserve these trees, noting a study will determine if they can be saved. However, he noted that one tree in particular may not be saved.
Veintimilla also questioned how the plan would deal with the existing water table, or what she referred to as the “swampy area underneath,” for lack of a better term.
“The area is really wet,” she said.
Thomson replied that the plaza will not be underwater unless levels continue to rise. He emphasized the project will be built above the water table, noting that a culvert will be established to help water flow.
Houle said the Town will have geotechnical engineers fully onboard to review the water table issue, which “should help give a bit of comfort.”
Veintimilla said she is “super happy” to see this space being utilized for a community plaza.
The project is slated to cost between $800,000 and $1 million, but the Town has been successful in securing a federal grant of $600,000 for construction.
