Hunters Hill is located just off Highway 97 and north of the town centre of Summerland. The property is perched on a formation of land that rises above the valley with spectacular views of Okanagan Lake, the town, and Garnet Valley. This unique subdivision project includes 148 single family lots with 500 acres of preservation land interwoven through the design. Homes are provided with a feeling of living with nature, while still having all urban utilities and at an easy location near all of Summerland’s amenities.

CTQ planners and engineers were retained by the developer to prepare the Hunters Hill Master Plan and obtain development approvals for land use changes for this new residential neighbourhood. The project was initiated in 2013 and required adherence to a Terms of Reference created jointly with the District of Summerland. The greenfield site had numerous site characteristics that provided potential for a premier development, but also offered challenges from a servicing, access, environmental and topographic features perspectives. Sensitivity to all planning items required a coordinated input managed by the CTQ Planning, Urban Design, and Engineering team. Our firm also drew upon specialists in environmental science, geotechnical engineering, and wildfire/forest interface risk assessment. Entire new DP Guidelines for Hillside Development were created from this project, along with achieving full approvals for OCP Amendment and Rezoning.

CTQ conducted public and stakeholder consultation, attended several public and council meetings, and was responsive to municipal staff directives and policy, but kept a keen eye on market reality. The sensitivity of the site required on-going visual impact assessment and changing scenarios to satisfy community objectives. CTQ was also involved in finding a joint venture partner for the original developer, allowing this new community to come to fruition in 2019/2020.

Hunters Hill’s location on undulating terrain warranted strategic positioning of homes, which influences the quality and design of the final product. Slope adaptive designs are used to step down gentle slopes, using varying rooflines, and avoiding single vertical planes. The site also requires thoughtful environmental protection measures, including the desire to protect as many existing trees as possible. Engineering components of this project include plans for two potable water booster stations, a 1,200 m3 water reservoir, a sanitary lift station, three storm detention ponds, two wildlife corridors, and hillside development road design and grading. In addition, E1 low-pressure sanitary sewer mains were designed for two segments of the development to help provide the most cost-efficient solution for the rolling terrain. CTQ is taking this project through all phases, from preliminary neighborhood planning to final construction.

This project consists of seven phases, and phase 1 is currently under construction during Spring/Summer 2020. For more information on this project, please visit the developer’s website – huntershill.ca

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