CLIENT: K’ul Development Group
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
Project Description Skaha Hills Phase 3 is a 32-lot subdivision situated at the top of Skaha Hills Drive on the Penticton Indian Reserve in Penticton, BC. The project represents the third of seven planned phases at ultimate build-out, with construction completed at the end of 2020. PRI provided full-service delivery on this project, encompassing geotechnical assessment, environmental impact assessment, subdivision drawings, stormwater management planning, field review, survey layout, and materials and density testing.
CHALLENGE:
The site presented significant topographic and servicing complexity. Developing a tiered lot subdivision on steep terrain required careful earthworks planning to maximize lot yield while preserving view corridors of Skaha Lake and the City of Penticton. The remote hilltop location also demanded a fully integrated approach to sanitary sewer, storm drainage, and water distribution, all designed to tie into existing Phase 2 infrastructure, while managing excavation material efficiently and minimizing off-site hauling.
APPROACH:
PRI designed and managed all civil and geotechnical components of the project. The sanitary sewer system comprised approximately 1,460 metres of gravity main connected to the Phase 2 sanitary infrastructure, while the storm sewer system included approximately 750 metres of gravity pipe and 70 metres of open ditch. The water distribution system consisted of approximately 1,370 metres of PVC watermain in various diameters. For earthworks, blasting was employed to reshape the terrain into tiered lots optimized for views and buildability. Rather than removing blasted material from site, it was directed to an on-site gravel pit where a crusher processed it into all required road construction materials, including crushed granular base, granular subbase, and decorative landscape rock.
OUTCOME:
Phase 3 was successfully completed at the end of 2020, delivering 32 fully serviced lots with desirable view corridors across Skaha Lake and Penticton. The on-site material processing strategy significantly reduced costs and site traffic by eliminating the need to import road construction aggregates. The project advanced the broader Skaha Hills development toward its seven-phase build-out vision, with PRI’s multi-discipline involvement ensuring seamless coordination across all engineering and environmental workstreams.