$500K makeover for Westbank

Photo: Contributed - Google Maps

2012 Westbank Centre Revitalization

Council was provided a summary of the 2012 actions undertaken in the Westbank area as part of the Westbank Centre Revitalization Plan. Council was advised that since the adoption of the Westbank Centre Plan in August 2011, the District has seen an increase in re-investment interest in the Westbank Centre including several development permits for business façade and landscaping improvements as well as rezoning applications for mixed use developments. The following projects occurred between November 2011 and November 2012:

Public Investment

• Streetscape improvements –$261,671, with $94,000 contributed from adjacent property owner
• Landscaping of Elliott Road municipal building –$2,240
• Street Banner and Christmas Light installation - $98,598
• Springer Park Improvements Plan developed
• Westbank Centre Spray Park construction completed and officially opened - $300,000, with $216,197 raised by Rotary Club of Westbank, $60,000 donated from Okanagan Kids Care and $20,000 from Westbank First Nation. The District of West Kelowna contributed $79,555 towards the spray park
• Westbank Centre – Gellatly Bay Waterfront Trail Connection developed and opened
• Parking study complete for Westbank Centre - $25,000
• Improvements to Westbank Museum site - $50,000
• Westbank Centre street clean-up blitz

Council also received information on Economic Development highlights and marketing initiatives. Council will be asked to consider the following projects for 2013 in its upcoming budget deliberations:

• Detailed design and construction of Brown Road streetscape improvements from Ingram to Bering Road
• Completion of Springer Park improvements, with contributions from the Gateway Urban Project,
• Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre improvements
• Memorial Park Plan development and construction
• Wayfinding Signage Plan
• Traffic impact assessment work

Cooperation with BC Transit on the design and construction of the RapidBus transit exchange in Westbank Centre
The District has retained Urban Systems Ltd. to complete a Highway 97 Reconfiguration Study to outline the complexities of the issue under the terms of the District’s priorities for Westbank Centre.

2012 Capital Projects - Council was provided an update on the status of its major capital projects undertaken this year. Sewer projects were completed in Lakeview Heights, Glenrosa and Applegreen/Cameron, expenditures in 2012, projects budgeted at approximately $14.1 million. The $2.6 million 2012 Road Rehabilitation and Pedestrian Improvement Program is complete, improving several roads and pedestrian pathways in the community. Casa Loma Drainage Improvements, budgeted in 2012 at $680,000, are currently underway.