Virtual Open House on development plans for Galloway Lands Thursday night

A virtual open house is planned for Thursday night to give you a chance to learn about Handshake Holding’s plans for developing the Galloway Lands.

Developer Reto Barrington says a conservation development is planned for the 185 hectare property north of Fernie Alpine Resort, new housing would be incorporated with the local trails network.

“We’re planning about seventy-five acreage lots averaging about three acres per lot,” Barrington explains.

Barrington says the proposed development has been planned in a manner that ensures continuity of trails and open spaces.

You can learn more about the proposed development of the subdivision at a virtual open house being held via Zoom at 6:00 pm Thursday, January 6.

Find more information and a link to register for the open house below:

Handshake Holdings Inc invites you to attend a virtual open house regarding their proposal for the Galloway Lands.

The open house is scheduled for Thursday 6 January 2022 at 6:00pm via Zoom. The open house will include an overview of the proposed development and answers to questions from community members.

To submit a question for the open house, please go to http://GallowayLands.com prior to 4:00pm Wednesday 5 January. Questions will also be answered on the night of the open house as time permits.  

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KVa1OhTGQWi8afSmqhHg7A

About the Galloway Lands Conservation Development:

The Galloway Lands is a 185 hectare (457 acre) property located north of Fernie Alpine Resort and south of the Cedars community.

The Galloway Lands is a remnant of a larger private forestry block owned by CH Nelson Holdings. In the early 1960’s much of this block became Snow Valley Ski Resort – now the Fernie Alpine Resort. The property owner is now seeking to see this site developed in a responsible manner.

CH Nelson Holdings and Handshake Holdings are proposing a subdivision design to cluster housing within the property and conserve a large portion of the property in its natural state. Lots will be a minimum of 1.0 ha (2.5 acres) and a maximum of 1.6 ha (4.0 acres).

The 75 proposed acreage lots have been planned in a manner that retains large areas of the property in its natural state while also retaining a Nordic ski loop trail and other existing trails.

“The Galloway Lands is a true “Conservation Subdivision”, as supported in the Elk Valley Official Community Plan, with 70% of the land under permanent protection, following globally recognized standards, this is a first for the region.”

We are now seeking zoning approval from the Regional District of East Kootenay which will allow the project to proceed.

An area comprising approximately 95.8 ha (236 acres) is proposed to be zoned PG-2 (Parks and Recreation Zone). This zone comprises approximately 51% of the total lands and ensures the long-term protection of the Lizard Creek riparian corridor and other riparian corridors, the lands sloping down to Highway #3, the parcel of land east of Highway #3 along the Elk River and significant buffer along the Crown lands to the west and Mt. Fernie Provincial Park to the north.

The remainder of the property, comprising 89.2 ha (221 acres), is to be zoned RR-1 (Rural Residential (Estate) Zone). The RR-1 (Rural Residential (Estate) Zone) permits single family residential development on parcels not less than 1.0 ha (±2.5 acres). Covenants will further protect an additional 20% of the total lands in its natural state.

The Galloway Lands proposal is aligned with the requirements of the Elk Valley Official Community Plan. The RDEK Elk Valley OCP establishes policies for residential land use, open space, and environmental considerations. The Galloway Lands proposal has positively addressed all relevant policies.

CH Nelson Holdings currently allow community use of the Galloway Lands for recreational activities including Nordic skiing, mountain biking and walking.  Based on trail counts, we estimate that over 45,000 people per year use the property for recreational activities. The development proposal will continue to allow recreational use of the property. An agreement between the landowner and the Regional District of East Kootenay will ensure public use of over 50% of the lands is permitted in perpetuity. This will include the Nordic ski loop, many mountain biking trails, walking trails and other ski trails. Connectivity between the Galloway Lands and Fernie Alpine Resort will be maintained and a multi-use trail connecting the resort with the Cedars community will be provided. 

To ensure that funding is available for trails and trail infrastructure, a fund is proposed that will be backed by the development. A percentage of the sale price of each home will be contributed to the fund to pay for trail planning, construction, and maintenance.

Lizard Creek is a valuable amenity, providing habitat and connectivity for wildlife and fish. With this proposal, the Lizard Creek corridor is protected in perpetuity.  The corridor will be zoned as parkland and a covenant will further restrict any development or tree removal within the Lizard Creek corridor.

This will ensure protection of a continuous riparian corridor along Lizard Creek from the Elk River to Island Lake Lodge and beyond.

This property is operated as Managed Forest and was last logged in the late 1980s’s by the Galloway Lumber Company. This proposal will prevent any future logging of the site, other than tree removal required to develop roads, trails and building sites.

The proposed development has been comprehensively planned in a manner that ensures continuity of trails and open spaces.  Permitting this overall plan eliminates the potential for multiple developers, each pursuing their own plans, to limit access to the property or restricting continuity of greenspaces. 

Development of the property will utilize WildSafe BC Bear Smart principles to protect wildlife and reduce potential for wildlife / human interactions.

Development of the property is to be phased and is expected to occur over an 8 – 10 year period.

A secondary emergency vehicle access route is planned from the Galloway Lands to Highway #3 providing a needed emergency access route to the property and to neighbouring Fernie Alpine Resort.

– Reto Barrington – Developer