McKee Peak Planning Study

Client: City of Abbotsford, BC

McKee Peak comprises a region of about 670 hectares in Abbotsford, and represents one of the few remaining areas available for development.  McKee Peak is a prominent landscape feature in Abbotsford, and the potential for a lasting visual impression necessitated a sensitive approach to planning that gave careful consideration to environmental features, view corridors and overall community needs. Limited access and the lack of utilities had historically prevented development. UMA was selected by the City to develop a land use concept plan and implementation guidelines to direct future use over this area.  UMA also provided an overview of market conditions to assess the probable demand for various housing forms and residential densities, and commercial land use.

Development of a preferred concept was based on an analysis of visual objectives, environmental features, park and open space needs, transportation and access issues, rainwater management, and water and sewer services. 

Integral to the development of the Plan were a series of community meetings and regular interaction with area land owners as well as a specially established interdisciplinary staff liaison team.

The Plan section of the report provides detailed land use policies, as well as implementation recommendations, and offers a guide to infrastructure requirements (including recommendations for more environmentally appropriate design), approximate development costs, traffic impacts, and lands that need to be acquired by the City to ensure adequate open space and protection of environmentally critical areas.

This project received an honourable mention for Comprehensive Planning and Policy, Division 2 (Projects $50,000 and over) from the Planning Institute of BC (PIBC) in 2007.

McKee Peak Viewscape Analysis