Eco-Village Project
This is the main project page for the Eco-Village Project, which will be updated periodically as the project progresses. In the page below details of work to date, next steps, project overview and links to past staff reports and presentations can be found.
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document is linked below where you can find commonly asked questions answered. The table of contents is clickable to take you directly to the questions. If you have further questions please find the staff contact at the bottom of this page.
Eco Village FAQ
Eco-Village RFEOI Release
On October 29th 2024 the District of Summerland published a Request for Expressions of Interest related to the Eco-Village development opportunity. The District is looking for feedback from developers who may be interested in purchasing the 11.6 acre parcel for development of the Eco Village, a highly sustainable mixed density residential development, OR a portion thereof.
Our concept plan for this development presents a sustainability-focused “Eco-Village” that would create approximately 150 residential units through cluster single family/duplex housing, hillside townhousing and pocket apartment buildings, all built alongside parkland with direct access to the premier 'Test of Humanity' mountain biking trail system, and the District’s Solar Energy Centre.
To review the full opportunity details including all associated appendices, please visit the RFEOI opportunity page on bids&tenders here. Responses are due by November 26th at 2:00pm
Eco Village Zoning Approval
(Updated August 23 2024)
On Tuesday August 13th 2024 a 6PM in Council Chambers in Municipal Hall (13211 Henry Avenue), the public hearing process took place for the rezoning of the Eco Village project. Following the Public Hearing the third reading and adoption of the Bylaw amendments was approved. The following links are the staff third reading and adoption report presented on Tuesday August 13th, 2024, and the public hearing presentation slides. The Districts GIS mapping is now updated showing the re-zoned parcels, and the Districts Zoning Bylaw is also updated with the approved Eco Village Comprehensive Development Zone (CD9)
Public Hearing Presentation Slides
3rd reading and adoption staff report (Aug 13)
Next Steps
Following the Bylaw Amendment approvals, staff will be working on the land sale process the Eco Village, with an anticipated timeframe of Fall/Winter 2024. In addition, staff will be working to finalize the design guidelines for the Eco Village project site in the Fall of 2024.
Questions?
If you have any questions regarding the proposed Eco-Village, please contact the Staff Project Lead below:
Odessa Cohen
Manager of Planning and Sustainability
email: ocohen@summerland.ca
phone: 250-404-4068
Public Engagement
The District of Summerland has engaged with key stakeholders and the public as part of the concept design process for the Eco-Village.
Past Engagement
November 2021:
A two day Charette took place with key stakeholders and staff, with a site tour, stakeholder session, Design Team Working Session and Council review. The intent was to provide feedback and review drafted concept plans as produced by the contractors, MODUS. A second engagement took place between March 9th and 28th 2022 the District of Summerland requested community feedback through an online survey. A total of 118 people completed the survey.
Please see the document below for a summary of the findings from the survey.
Public Survey Feedback Summary
February 28th 2024
A public open house was hosted at the Arts Centre in Summerland to inform residents of work to date and next steps for the Eco Village. A public survey was launched the same day and closed 3 weeks later. Open House information is provided below.
Eco Village Open House Bristol Boards
Open House slide deck
Project Overview
The District of Summerland is working to develop a set of zoning and design documents to support the conceptual design of the Eco Village, as directed by Council. In the Spring of 2021 Council directed staff to investigate the feasibility of an environmentally sensitive eco-village style development.
Since that time, two engagement sessions with the public have taken place, including adjacent landowners, recreational trail group stakeholders, and the Penticton Indian Band. A final Conceptual Plan for the Eco Village has been endorsed by Council (April 25 2022), and technical assessments on environmentally-sensitive habitat, geotechnical constraints, and significant cultural and heritage values have been developed.
The Project area is District-owned land located on Cartwright Mountain, across 13500 Prairie Valley Road, 12591 Morrow Avenue, and the Denike area on roughly 66 acres of land.
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A timeline of work to date and into 2024 can be found below.
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Eco-Village Concept Plan
The District, along with our consultants MODUS Planning & Design and Association Engineering, have completed an Eco-Village Concept Plan that has been informed by engineering, environmental and urban design expertise, best practices in sustainable design and engagement with the Penticton Indian Band and neighbor and community Stakeholders. This Concept Plan was endorsed by Council on April 25, 2022.
Please find an updated copy of the Eco-Village Concept Plan below:
Eco-Village Concept Plan
The Eco Village Project Values are summarized below, and will be used to guide the design, development and process of the Eco Village.
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Proposed Development Features
The proposed development will be designed and developed to embody high sustainability where possible, this will be accomplished through site specific zoning through a comprehensive development zone, design and landscape guidelines, and the requirement to use and achieve LEED- Neighborhood Development and EnvisionV3.9.7.2018 certification. LEED-ND will be used to guide developers in the sustainable development of housing and overall neighborhood design, and Envision will be used to guide sustainable development of infrastructure, such as roads, utilities, and services.
These frameworks were endorsed for use in the Eco Village by Council following a staff presentation and report on sustainable frameworks for the Eco-Village development. In addition to these sustainable building and infrastructure frameworks, the Energy Step Code in the BC Building Code will need to be adhered to by developers. As of May 1 2023, the BC Building Code now has minimum requirements for all new Part 3 and 9 Buildings under the Energy Step Code; Step Code 3 for Part 9 buildings and Step Code 2 for Part 3 buildings. When updates are provided from the BC Building code for the Zero Carbon Step Code, any requirements will also need to be adhered to.
Full Staff presentation and report can be viewed in the next section along with all other past presentations and reports.
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