Dear Community Members;
As president of SVDL I have the honour of frequent contact with the many non-profit
organizations, residents, guests and property and business owners who work, play, create
and live in Sunshine Valley. Many of these relationships have fostered a healthy give and
take communication style on what sort of improvements the company could support and /
or partner in to make Sunshine Valley even better. As my family also enjoys the time we
spend in the Valley, and plan to continue for years to come, I am committed to making
improvements whenever we can.
It's been awhile since I’ve provided any sort of an update so I thought that this would be a
good time to catch up with you all. I have a lot to cover and some of it will not be of interest
to everyone, so I’ve broken this up into four sections:
-Community Initiatives,
-Infrastructure,
-Future Business Plans,
-Upcoming Community Events and Programs.
In closing, I hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Autumn and Thanksgiving
celebration.
Happy reading!
David Bull
President
SVDL
COMMUNITY INITIATIVES
SV Ratepayers/Community Garden
If you haven’t taken the opportunity to visit the community garden at the entrance to
Sunshine Valley you really should. It is a peaceful oasis full of native plants, perennials,
shade-providing trees and quiet spots to catch up with a friend or a good book. It is a credit
to all the community members who volunteer hundreds of hours to keep the garden
beautiful for everyone. SVDL was happy to provide some benches last year and this year we provided funding towards a new gazebo. This will come in handy when the thermostat hits 30 degrees, which happens more and more these days.
Sunshine Valley ATV Club
The SV-ATV Club is dedicated to ensuring the area has fun and challenging trails for ATV,
snow mobiles and motor bike users, while maintaining community safety and the quiet
enjoyment of the public. They have been working on creating new trails that do not infringe
on non-motorized users. Creating new trails can be back breaking work so SVDL has
committed to supporting the creation of new trails with both cash and in-kind support, such
as bulldozer use and materials.
SV Rec Centre Society
Many of you know that we donated $30,000 to the Society to be used for playground
improvements. These improvements are ongoing but in this day of global supply chain
issues this cash will only go so far, so we have also committed to improving the building and exterior by providing new solar lighting, fixing potholes in the parking lot, upgrades to the tennis court, materials for the stage and providing tons of gravel to improve the property. SVDL also sponsored some of the Society’s community events with cash and value in kind contributions as well as personnel.
The Society has also expressed an interest in increasing their membership. SVDL planning to give all recent Owners a one month free User Pass, so that they can try out some of the
Society’s events and programs.
We are also helping the Society with their future plan of fixing the roof on the large barn by
committing up to $175,000 towards the roof repair, at an estimated cost of $700,000
Stay tuned for an announcement on a future event in July 2023 that you will not want to
miss!
Community Safety
Recently many community members have been concerned about security and property
crime. While Sunshine Valley does not experience the same amount of crime as nearby Hope or the Fraser Valley, we are sadly not immune to the changing times. To this end SVDL is installing new cameras in high use areas. There are already private cameras at the entrances to Alpine and Meadow Villages. We will be installing new cameras at the four-way stop next to the community gardens and on the north side at the entrance to Huckleberry. All future camera installations will be equipped with infrared and high-definition quality. Recent discussions with Telus indicate that the High-Speed Internet that we are partially paying for will improve the quality of the videos, making Sunshine Valley unattractive to future criminals. Rogers and Bell users will also be interested to know that we are discussing infrastructure that will improve cell service throughout Sunshine Valley, most notably in Alpine and Huckleberry Villages.
Other community safety initiatives include working with the MOTI (Ministry of Highways and
Infrastructure) to construct Geotech and Civil Engineer-designed flood mitigation
improvements and to improve and maintain the evacuation pathways and roads. These are
both much needed safety improvements.
Trites Water System
We have recently contracted with BC Hydro on new upgrades that will improve the water
system for all users. To date over $47,000 has been spent to provide up-to-date digital
intake monitoring and we have also procured quotes to fix the pathway access to the water
intake, with the work taking place next spring.
Cedar Lake
On recommendations from the MOTI and consultants, SVDL undertook a comprehensive
plan to reconstruct both sides of Ferguson Creek and added a sediment clean-out and
delivery system to Cedar Lake entrances and egresses.
We also commissioned a full environmental study for the area that included improvement
and maintenance recommendations. We are exploring options for deepening and widening
the lake, making it much more attractive for recreational swimmers and non-motorized
boats.
Fire Department
In these days of increasing insurance fees, we have been hoping to improve Sunshine
Valley’s fire protection status, in part, by improving some of the fire suppression delivery
systems. With an eye to attaining semi-protected status, the SVVFD is planning to hold time
trials soon and if the times are attained to a level that our fire protection status is improved,
we should all see lower insurance fees in the future.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Water Systems
We recently worked with the Provincial Government and Fraser Health to approve new plans and construction for upgrades to the water system and have been awarded a new operators certificate. I’m proud to announce that for the first time in fifty-five years SVDL will be providing potable water to Huckleberry Village. We will also be providing potable water to the new developments which will be on separate water systems.
Communications
Canada Post has recently agreed, on a preliminary basis, to add additional postal boxes to
the Huckleberry side of the Valley.
Telus
Recent discussions with Telus have indicated that high-speed internet is still coming to
Sunshine Valley but we do not have a definite date for this yet. We have committed to
contributing funds to make this happen and will update you with any news as it arrives.
FUTURE PLANS
Hope Slide and Rock Spillway
We have explored ways this property can be used and have come to the conclusion that this area is not suitable for residential use, but we are confident that it will be useful for
businesses and the community. SVDL has put aside a number of lots for the community to
use as a storage area for construction vehicles and materials. Other lots will be sold to
commercial enterprises. We are also building a new road that will bypass the residential
areas. This new commercial use for land storage area (3% of developer owned land) primarily for construction materials will save the back and forth costs that the community currently pays for transportation. Storage of vehicles and materials close-by results in less pressure on fossil fuel use. Less fuel use equals less money spent, less noise, and a cleaner environment.
New locally owned businesses will increase the tax base in the region, resulting in better
amenities.
We hope to add an additional fire break next to the Hope Slide and to enlarge the existing
one. As 90% of the prevailing winds come west to east to SV, this will enhance fire safety for
the Valley.
New development
SVDL has plans to develop up to thirty new cabin lots at the west end of the property
adjacent to existing quarter-acre lots.
East Huckleberry
We have no plans to develop the land above the old runway, on the hillside, east of the
Huckleberry Gate. In 2022 a contractor cut down trees in this area in error and we plan to
replant this section with new trees in 2023.
Sumallo
Based on community input we will continue to maintain non-motorized use only in the
meadow, so that walkers and cyclists can peacefully and safely continue to stroll in the area.
Parkhill and SV Community Rec Centre
We will be erecting a fence around the primary septic field and the septic tank area between the Community Centre and the big old Barn (the recently repainted one). This will hopefully decrease damage and increase public safety.
Other
We have recently been assisting Alpine Meadows to review their real estate ownership model with an eye to better property values.
Gravel, rock and soil
We are developing contracts and a business plan for the supply of gravel, rock and topsoil to Sunshine Valley. We expect prices will be very competitive. Stay tuned for more information as we bring this service online.
Asphalt Grindings
We are currently working with the MOTI to access asphalt grindings that can be used by the
community for lanes, paths and driveways.
UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS AND PROGRAM
Community Firewood
All of Sunshine Valley experienced blow down of logs and debris during the November
flooding and atmospheric river systems. SVDL has cleared much of our own blowdown into
one area and will be offering the fire wood for $160 per cord, with funds going to the SVCRS, SV Ratepayers, and the SVV Fire Department. More details will be announced at a later date.
Ebikes for the Community
We are exploring the idea of providing ebikes for community use.
Winter Family Day Festival
Mark your calendars for the weekend of February 18 and 19, 2023 when the Sunshine Valley Community Recreation Society celebrates Family Day with their extended family. Ice skating, live music, hands on arts and crafts, an artisan showcase and more. Keep checking SVCRS.ca for more updates.
I’m happy to announce that SVDL will be joining Fortis and Department of Canadian
Heritage as a sponsor for this exciting new event.
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