May 1, 2025 – For release:
The Village of Radium Hot Springs has an agreement in place for the acquisition of just over four acres of vacant land along Ridge Road in north Radium.
The acquisition, pending some procedural steps, is intended to support community and neighbourhood needs including: the development of purpose-built rental housing; a new park in north Radium; and some local road network improvements.
“This is a positive step for both the local neighbourhood and the Village as a whole,” said Village of Radium Hot Springs Mayor Mike Gray. “With this land acquisition our community will benefit from more parkland and improved road network at the same time as we continue to tackle the need for rental housing. This should be an overall win for our residents.”
Given the particulars of this transaction, the land for dedicated parkland and road right of way is best accomplished through an expropriation process that has been initiated as part of the agreement with the seller. The remainder of the land is being purchased as a traditional purchase.
A $410,000 purchase price for the total property has been agreed to with the seller and the expropriation is amicable. Money from the Village’s Parkland Acquisition Reserve Fund, a Federal Housing Accelerator Fund grant, and Provincial Growing Communities Fund grant will be used to pay for the land. 
More than half of the land (2.3 acres) will be set aside for possible future housing. And a little more than 1.1 acres will be dedicated as parkland. New rental housing and parkland development will support community development.
Plans for the housing development and the parkland will involve public participation.
The road dedications should help improve traffic flow and parking on Ridge Road. A proposed road connection from Ridge Road to the north is intended to remain unbuilt but will allow the Village options in the future if there is need for a connection.
The property is served by existing water and sewer lines and is bounded by sidewalks on its entire southern edge.
For more information contact:
Mike Gray, Mayor
Village of Radium Hot Springs
(250) 341-7272
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Below are some questions and answers on this project:
Q: There have been survey stakes in the ground on that property for a couple of weeks – why wasn’t this communicated out earlier?
A: This information was released as soon as possible. The Village has been working with the seller, surveyors and legal counsel on the expropriation process and could not communicate out until the formal expropriation process was initiated – which took a bit of time. The expropriation is required for the park and road dedicated areas. The seller has agreed to this expropriation process and it is amicable.
Q: Why has this process not been public until now?
A: Municipal Land Acquisition is usually done in-camera (in closed meetings) to negotiate on behalf of the community. This normal process is outlined in the Community Charter (provincial law).
Q: What is the goal in acquiring this property?
A: Council campaigned on and was elected to support availability of adequate housing. This property can support dedicated rental housing to support community need while also allowing for a community park in north Radium and, in time, fixing some road network issues in the area.
Q: What happens next? What does the process look like and where are we in that process?
A: Even though this expropriation is amicable, the formal process is not finalized. The Village is optimistic it will move ahead. The land acquisition is the first step for the rest of the project, and there is planning and public input to follow.
Q: What’s been decided, what still needs to be decided?
A: The Village’s primary goal in this acquisition is work toward development of purpose-built rental housing on parts of the property. The land will be a first step, but public input and a specific development and funding plan are future steps. As well some of the land will be dedicated as community parkland in north Radium. Public input will also be sought before the park is developed.
Q: The Village is doing a new official community plan. How does this fit?
A: Housing is an identified need in community planning documents – for example the Village’s 2024 Interim Housing Needs Report. The need for a park in north Radium and road improvements in this area are included in the Village’s draft official community plan.
Map of Land Acquisition
