Salmon Arm council directed city staff to look into creating an emergency access/egress route in Canoe.
The request arose from a letter to council from Canoe resident Elaine Beer in which she expressed concerns about the increased development and traffic in the area.
“In the event that we are required to evacuate the area, the only way to reach 50th Street and 70th Street NE and a way out is via 47th or 48th Street NE,” Beer wrote in her April 8 letter.
In answer to concerns from various councillors, Rob Niewenhuizen, director of engineering and public works, noted the real bottleneck is at 50th and 70th where, he says, Fire Chief Brad Shirley advised him the boulevards are wide enough for vehicles to jump the curb and get by obstacles.
“In our bylaw, when we permit a development, we go to the nearest intersection to determine the length of the cul de sac and that whole area is developed based on it being close enough to 70th and 50th,” he said.
Niewenhuizen also pointed out that access to Canoe Beach Drive is planned when two area properties are developed, along with another access/egress road when the golf course is developed in the future.
Coun. Kevin Flynn, pointed to the 1998 wildfire in Salmon Arm and the recent evacuation of Fort McMurray and asked if, rather than waiting for properties to be developed, council should consider looking at constructing an access road.
Coun. Louise Wallace Richmond, who lives in Canoe, said the challenge is in getting her neighbours to understand why the city is not “punching a road through.”
Niewenhuizen pointed out the city does not own the land and an access/egress road will only be created when two large properties in question are developed.
He also advised councillors there is pedestrian access from the local seniors’ complex.
But Coun. Alan Harrison suggested the city speak to a property owner about creating a dirt road with a locked gate across an empty field to give residents peace of mind.