Mayor Patrick Van Minsel and Peachland Council agreed unanimously to proceed with the design and construction of a basic new firehall on land already assembled for the project adjacent to 13th Street, without any additional land requirements.
After undertaking a Request for Pre-Qualifications (RFQUAL) process in December 2025 for a Public-Private Partnership or a similar arrangement to design and construct a new firehall, the results show that current market circumstances do not make a project like this viable at this time.
Instead, Council agreed to proceed with the construction of a standalone firehall, and not pursue a Protective Services Building nor seek to acquire more land like the nearby Peachland Baptist Church.
“We are very pleased with the pre-qualification process, in that it was robust and thorough and answered the questions that we needed answered,” said Mayor Van Minsel. “We now know, at this time, a private-public partnership is just not going to work, but we had to explore higher uses for that valuable gateway area. I know I speak for all of Council that we are happy to allay the concerns of the supporters of the Peachland Baptist Church and we commend its representatives for their patience and professionalism as we navigated these waters.”
The land assembled for the new firehall is on San Clemente Avenue adjacent to 13th Street, an important entrance to the community from Highway 97. The District will be working closely with the Ministry of Transportation and Transit to satisfy highway safety and access requirements at this location.
In 2022, Peachland electors approved a referendum to borrow $17.5 million for the construction of a new firehall. Since then, the District purchased property at 4223 San Clemente Avenue, adjacent to the municipally owned parcel at the corner of San Clemente Avenue and 13th Street for the project.
After the referendum, general construction costs escalated rapidly due to volatile market conditions. In order to make up for the unexpected funding shortfall, the District examined opportunities for a public-private-partnership through a market sounding and Request for Qualifications Process.
At this stage, the District will pursue a simplified firehall design to serve the needs of Peachland today. The tendering process will be cost-driven, calling for design and construction plans based on cost-saving construction methods, including prefabricated steel structures.
The bulk of the approved borrowing amount remains available for the design/construction phase. The project will be designed to meet regulatory requirements and allow the facility to grow as resources allow. The District has applied through the Union of BC Municipalities for a $7 million grant through the Growing Communities Fund – Strategic Priorities Fund for the new firehall project.
The current facility at 4401 3rd Street is no longer suitable due to age, condition and increased service demands and is not meeting regulatory requirements. The new central location will meet health and safety regulations, improve response times and enable the District to more effectively support regional emergency activations.