On Tuesday, Kamloops City Council will be reviewing a rezoning application for the future Pineview Elementary school.
According to the report, School District No. 73 is proposing an increase to the size of the future school site to better accommodate the school building, road access, parking, a playground and a basketball court.
City planning staff explain that the property, located at 1900 Copperhead Drive, has a few constraints including topography and the triangular shape of the lot which is due to required setbacks from Python Lake.
City staff say the school district has proposed to purchase additional land from three adjacent properties to expand the school site and provide direct street frontage to the future alignment of Copperhead Drive.
The three properties are located to the east, south and southeast of the existing school site.
“The current school site is on the southeastern edge of the Pineview neighbourhood, and the proposed rezoning and OCP amendment applications will add 0.88 ha from the three subject properties to the current school site,” states the report.
If this proposal is successful, the school site would grow from 2.28 hectares to 3.16 to accommodate parking and road access.
City staff point out that the school district’s concept plan is not considered a final and staff will need to determine if a Riparian Areas Regulation Development Permit will be required.
The report explains that the extension of Copperhead Drive is scheduled to begin in 2024 which is the same year that construction on the school is expected to begin.
City staff don’t not believe the site expansions will adversely affect future development opportunities in the area.
Staff are recommending that city council give consideration to the OCP and zoning amendments and forward the proposal to a public hearing.
