In the first council meeting since the debate over the proposed subdivision on Eden Drive, a new solution is being presented: the Streetscape Improvements Program. The Eden Drive proposal stirred up some community opposition. However, what stood out was the openness to compromise—particularly when it came to the required curbside improvements.
Residents and the developer seemed willing to find middle ground, provided there was some flexibility in how the frontage upgrades would be handled. This discussion brought an ongoing issue to the forefront: how Chilliwack manages curbside improvements for new developments.
Currently, Chilliwack's policy requires developers to install frontage improvements—things like sidewalks, curbs, gutters, and streetlights—as part of their redevelopment projects. On the surface, this seems fair. New developments should contribute to the overall infrastructure, right?
But in practice, this approach has led to what many call the "missing tooth" effect. Picture a street where one or two properties have brand-new sidewalks, but the neighbouring lots have none. It looks disjointed, and more importantly, it doesn't function well.
Partial sidewalks create accessibility issues, force pedestrians onto the road, and make neighbourhoods feel incomplete. For developers, it can also be a logistical nightmare—hiring engineers, getting design approvals, coordinating with contractors, and undergoing city inspections—all for a small stretch of sidewalk that may not even connect to anything.
This is where the newly proposed Streetscape Improvements Program (Policy Directive No. G-36) comes in. The biggest change? Developers now have the option to pay a pre-determined fee to the City instead of constructing these frontage improvements themselves.
Unlike past policies where these funds were locked into future upgrades for that specific street, this new program allows the City to pool the money and use it for larger, continuous stretches of curbside improvements anywhere in Chilliwack. Early estimates suggest this could fund up to two full blocks of new curbside improvements each year.
The goal is to eliminate the patchwork of sidewalks and create more cohesive, connected neighbourhoods. While the policy doesn’t outline exactly how the City will prioritize which areas get these upgrades, it’s fair to assume that city staff will make those decisions based on community needs and infrastructure priorities.
One unanswered question is how long the funds might sit in trust before being used for projects—a detail that could impact how quickly residents see results.
If this program rolls out as intended, it could be a win-win for developers and the community. Developers could avoid the lengthy and costly process of hiring engineers, submitting designs for city approval, coordinating construction, and passing final inspections—all just to install a sidewalk in front of a single lot.
For the community, doing all the work at once should mean lowered costs and allow the City to execute a more comprehensive improvement plan without needing additional budget increases or new taxes—which is a great thing.
With council set to discuss this policy at their upcoming meeting, it seems likely that it will get the green light. If that happens, the Eden Drive subdivision might just be the first project to take advantage of this new program.
Let’s hope this new approach brings smoother development processes and better-connected neighbourhoods for all of Chilliwack.
