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Cranbrook, BC (February 5, 2024) – Following a very active public engagement and petition process through December 2023 and January 2024 for the proposed South Hill Local Area Service (LAS) for the extension of water and sanitary sewer services further South on 12th Avenue, the City of Cranbrook will not be moving forward with the LAS.

Council defeated the proposed LAS at their regular meeting on Monday, February 5, 2024, after a majority of residents were confirmed to have petitioned against it. 22 valid petitions against the proposal were received out of 27 properties represented in the South Hill LAS area.

“I understand that the proposal was controversial for some residents, however, the LAS process was required to be followed to hear from the residents on the public record. In the end, Council believes the right outcome prevailed for most of the residents,” says Mayor Wayne Price. “The City is committed to working with residents who did want to receive the service extension, to explore if there are some possible smaller scale options for them, if it is practical.”    

The proposed LAS for the South Hill area was intended to provide City water service, reliable sewer, and fire hydrant spacing and vital fire water flow to this area of Cranbrook, which remains on wells and septic systems which would be required if residents wished to further develop their properties by subdividing or building, which currently is not able to happen.

An LAS may be initiated either by owners or property in the proposed local area or by the municipal Council. In this instance, the City wished to establish the local area service, following an earlier request from some property owners for the service extension.

For more information about what the proposed South Hill LAS included, fact sheets, and more, visit www.cranbrook.ca/southhill.