The Vision and Planning

The great part of developing on 20 acres of undeveloped, unzoned waterfront property is the freedom to create your vision exactly as you imagine. When we considered developing this stunning piece of property, we knew that the design of the community must be reflective of the natural beauty of the surrounding area. Many inputs were considered and many site trips were made to other real estate developments throughout BC and Alberta. 

We considered subdividing the property, but this presented many challenges. Some lots would have exclusive access to the waterfront, some to the orchard, some would have creek frontage, others would have highway frontage. But no lots would have access to all. Providing road access to all lots in the subdivision would require an elaborate network of engineered, widegrade roads – reducing greenspace and expensive to build. Each lot could require an individual septic system and water source. The septic systems would require large areas where trees would need to be removed.  Then there was the challenge of how to incorporate the existing vacation cottages, spa, gift shop, etc.  In short, none of the options presented by parcelling the land would satisfy the overall vision of protecting the natural beauty of the property or give our owners access to all of the amenities that make Wing Creek Resort so special.

The decision was made to develop based on a Strata design. This would allow for a maintenance- free living style and a consistent level of property care. A Strata design would give the development a clear direction, a common focus and create a truly unified community.

Deciding upon a “Strata” was a great start, but how would we ensure that our homeowners built green and would meet our requirements to protect this property and surrounding area? How would we control the size and design of the homes?  Architectural controls are common, but more often than not, developers loosen their guidelines in order to make sales. Also, who would build these homes in such a remote location? Local contractors are few and trades are often difficult to obtain. Would buyers be willing or able to oversee the construction of these homes? Would they bring in outside contractors and trades? Would the building materials be purchased locally? It quickly became evident that in order to satisfy all our requirements we needed to design Wing Creek as a “Building Strata”. This would also give all of Wing Creek Resort’s current and future owners and vacationers access to the lush forest trails, waterfalls, orchard, vineyard and pristine beachfront for which it has become known.

Stay tuned for our next blog...