A senior’s development in Coldstream is looking to expand.
Coldstream Meadows wants to develop a two-storey, 60-bed licensed residential care facility (called the Monashee Community of Care) as well as 36 single-storey independent living units (the Terraces).
“We continue to pursue the development of Coldstream Meadows with enhanced care facilities in order to provide a true campus of care in Coldstream,” said Jack Borden, owner.”
The proposal includes increasing the permitted density from the current 160 units to 220 (the proposal would bring the total number of units to just under 200). The application also seeks to increase the allowed developable area from two hectares to 4.75.
The new construction would sit on either side of the existing Coldstream Meadows facilities – the Lodge (the original facility) and the Views and the Cottages (the most recent developments).
“It would add quite a significant chunk outside of the five-acre (two-hectare) footprint,” said Coun. Maria Besso.
Development at Coldstream Meadows was historically restricted to the two-hectare footprint, including a limit of 160 units, prior to construction of the Views and the Cottages.
The council of the day (2004) struggled with the decision after hearing public opposition to development.
The original application was scaled back from a proposed 270 units.
Due to the controversy in the past, some current Coldstream councillors are hesitant to allow further development on the land.
“It’s a question of trust,” said Besso, adding that the land is in the Agricultural Land Reserve but has non-farm (institutional) use.
But Borden insists there are no construction plans outside of the current proposal.
“We have no plans to build on the northern property,” said Borden.
“That’s been made very clear.”
The application is partially in response to the Interior Health Authority’s recent request for proposal for 46-funded, licensed residential care beds.
The Monashee Community of Care would fit the proposal with 46 IHA funded beds and 14 private pay beds.
“Even if we are not successful on that RFP, we’d still like to develop that piece of our property,” said Borden, adding that the proposal may be modified slightly to suit projected demand.
Borden’s application is also in response to a growing population of seniors needing care.
“The plus 75 population in Greater Vernon is projected to double in the next 20 years,” said Borden.
Coldstream Meadows is currently the only full-service retirement community in Coldstream so Borden says there is a need to expand to provide further spaces with varying levels of care.
“Right now, Coldstream residents requiring a higher level of care must relocate to Vernon or other communities.”
He also sees the campus as a necessity for Coldstream’s sustainability.
“You cannot have a sustainable community if you don’t have a full service retirement community that an aging population requires.”
The application has already been approved by the technical committee (which is a committee of council) with conditions.
Councillors Doug Dirk and Gyula Kiss were opposed to forwarding the application to council.
Council will have the final say on whether or not the application can proceed. The matter is slated for Monday’s council meeting.
Conditions to approval include a landscape plan, 15-metre buffer surrounding the entire property, an additional five-metre buffer for the Terraces, provision of park land or cash in lieu, completion of a traffic impact analysis, report on impacts to the storm water drainage as well as a storm water management plan.
