Lumby denies housing project

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 04, 2008

Despite a need for attainable housing, Lumby has lost the potential for 36 new families to move into the area. Entorno Homes Inc. had been seeking a zoning change from green space church to medium density residential on Shuswap Avenue to construct 24 duplexes and 12 condos. But following an hour-and-a-half public meeting on the development Tuesday, with approximately 100 people in attendance, it was shot down by council. With only four members of council in attendance, the tie vote was defeated. “I’m disappointed that we couldn’t make it work,” said Mayor Eric Foster. “But it just didn’t fit.” While Foster says many of the residents opposed to the project agreed that there is a real need for housing in the community, they felt the density of the development just didn’t fit on that property.

“There was going to be too many people in too small of an area,” said Foster. Some of the other concerns raised included safety issues, particularly for kids crossing the road with increased traffic from the development. While the property does allow 26 multi-family units, the developer was seeking 36 to make it viable and will therefore be seeking development elsewhere. “I think the community got shortchanged more than anything,” said Entorno Homes Inc. director Marty Gilbert.

The development, targeting middle-income families who earn $56,000, did have a lot of support from businesses and young families, said Gilbert. Unfortunately their support wasn’t strong enough to prompt them to speak up at the public hearing. While the company respects the Lumby councillors’ decision, a statement from the company says the loss of attainable-priced housing will only hurt the community. “We feel the decision to deny a family-oriented development, on a site surrounded by similarly zoned medium and high-density housing will prove very costly to the community of Lumby,” reads the statement. “Sending a message to the private development community that Lumby is not open to housing for young families will exacerbate the downward cycle of reduced school enrolment, industry closures and an exodus of families from the village. It is unfortunate that the decision of two councillors will adversely affect the community for many years to come.” Foster hopes that won’t be the situation for the community. “I hope somebody can find a piece of land that’s suitable so we can have some higher-density housing.”