On April 29, 2010, KLEECA filed our Preliminary Layout Application (PLA) with the Ministry of Transportation (MOT). This is a huge step forward in our plans to build an eldercare community on 7.14 acres of land in Crawford Bay.

Six months of intense work went into developing the proposed layout for the selected property, located adjacent to Crawford Bay Auto. Topo-graphical maps were drawn, a well drilled to ensure we had adequate water of good quality, percolation tests done to determine septic capability, a road engineer was consulted, and we established a relationship with a Kamloops lawyer who is a specialist in co-operative housing.

These development costs and a contract wage for a project manager were paid for by donations from the Nelson Lions Club and The Eastshore Project.

Every step of the way, we were in communication with the landowners, Glen and Fran Kinder, and with the consultants who developed our business plan, Leslie and Peter Hamblin-Cobb of ArcticFacts Consulting.

The questions kept coming: How many strata lots can we develop? How much will they cost? How many services can we (or must we) provide? The answers to these and many other questions will finally be answered when the PLA is returned.

It will probably be 2-4 months until the PLA comes back to us after review by the Ministry of Transport, the Interior Health Authority, the RDCK and any other agency that might be concerned. Each of these will have recommendations, suggestions and required changes.

This is another major decision point in the development plan, when the board examines the required changes to see if we can ensure the project remains financially viable. It is our goal to make these lots affordable for people, and if the required changes are too costly to make, it may drive the prices out of range.

Please attend our 2010 AGM, at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 5, at the Crawford Bay School. We want to share the information we submitted in the PLA, and we want and need your input on various scenarios that both the board of directors and the members will have to consider when our PLA is returned.