The All Candidates meeting held on November 6, 2011 was very well attended by the community. Councillors Cannon, Harrison, and Eliason, as well as a number of other candidates have consistently taken firm positions in support of bringing more shopping opportunities to Salmon Arm.

Mayoralty candidate Councillor Kevin Flynn has been the most vocal in his support of more shopping in Salmon Arm. This is not surprising as he voted in favour of our development in 2008 and 2010.

Last Thursday, SmartCentres hosted a Groundbreaking Ceremony celebrating the start of construction on our site in Salmon Arm. The event was attended by Mayor Bootsma and supportive Councillors, community leaders and the Shushwap Pro-Development Group. We have awarded a contract to Hoban Construction, a local firm, to complete the site preparation work for Phase 1. This is the first step in the construction process and we anticipate completing additional works, highway improvements, and building construction in early spring. Stay tuned for further announcements regarding tenants in the New Year.

As a reminder, the municipal elections are just around the corner (November 19, 2011) and there are a number of candidates with clear platforms in support of economic growth, including increased shopping opportunities in Salmon Arm. We encourage everyone to be informed and to get out and vote!

Nathan Hildebrand
Land Development Associate
SmartCentres

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The 2011 Municipal Elections are just around the corner and now is the time to be informed on the candidates running for Council. An All Candidates Meeting hosted by the Chamber of Commerce will be held on:

Date: Sunday November 6, 2011
Location: SASCU Recreation Centre (2550 10th Ave. NE)
Time: 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm

This is an opportunity to hear the candidates' positions on various important issues facing Salmon Arm. We also anticipate questions will be raised regarding our development to bring more shopping to Salmon Arm. This is an excellent chance to hear from all candidates and to see who is actively supporting and encouraging investment, job creation, and growth for your community. Again, we encourage everyone to be informed and to participate in the municipal elections by attending the All Candidates meeting and more importantly to get out and VOTE!

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The 2011 municipal elections are quickly approaching and the past three years have been a very busy term for the current Mayor and Council. Our proposed development to bring more shopping to Salmon Arm has been the most prominent issue facing this Council. We want to take this opportunity to thank Councillors Cannon, Eliason, Flynn, Harrison and Mayor Bootsma for supporting our development. With their support of our project, this will help ensure that Salmon Arm is moving forward with:

• An investment of $45 million
• Upon completion, the creation of 480 part and full time jobs with an additional 150 construction jobs
• $775,000 in Development Cost Charges
• An annual contribution of $1 million in property taxes

We also want to acknowledge and specifically thank Mayor Bootsma for all his hard work and commitment to the City of Salmon Arm. In his last term as Mayor, he has supported growth and development in the City and has been a great representative of the community. Thank you all for ensuring that more shopping is coming to Salmon Arm!

We strongly encourage our supporters, to continue to show their support for all returning Councillors as well as Councillor Flynn's candidacy for Mayor. Support could range from contacting those individuals who support more shopping in Salmon Arm and offering your assistance or simply ensuring you and your friends and family get out to vote on November 19. Furthermore, there are many new candidates that are hoping to also serve on Council. Please take the time to review their goals and objectives carefully. We encourage everyone to attend the upcoming All Candidates meeting to hear what each individual is hoping to achieve in the next term. The meeting will be held on:

Date: Sunday, November 6, 2011
Time: 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
Location: SASCU Recreation Centre

Again, please save the date and encourage everyone to be informed and participate in the events leading up to and on November 19. As previously mentioned, we need our supporters to make sure they get out and vote for those individuals who have supported our project over the past three years.

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As some of you may have noticed, over the past week SmartCentres has been clearing our site located at the intersection of the Trans Canada Highway and 30th St. SW. This is the first step of the construction process and will be completed today. Hoban Equipment Ltd., a local business, has done a great job in completing the work. The next step is site works which we hope to begin in October, which will facilitate the construction of buildings beginning first thing in the spring.

We have recently submitted a Development Permit (DP) Amendment to address the conditions placed by Council on our previously approved DP. These small changes will satisfy both MOTI and MOE. We hope to have the final approval from Council on the revised DP by mid October. This should facilitate us being able to then apply for building permit for

Phase 1.

I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the upcoming Municipal Election on November 19. It is very important to be involved in this election and get out there and support those on Council who have supported more shopping in Salmon Arm and have worked diligently over the past 3 years to represent the larger community needs and interests.

We understand that our supporters have been anxious to see this project move forward. This is an exciting time for SmartCentres and the community as construction begins. We look forward to a busy next 12 months that will include significant announcements with respect to future tenants.

Thanks again for your continued interest and support.

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As many of you know by now, Council approved the development permits for Salmon Arm Shopping Centres Limited at last night's Public Hearing. This was the final approval required prior to moving forward to construction. While we still need to complete some outstanding conditions, we hope to start construction in August 2011 with a grand opening of Nov 15 2012.

On behalf of SmartCentres and our team, we want to thank the Mayor and Council, City Staff and the residents of Salmon Arm for all their support. We could not have received approvals without your dedication and commitment to the community and the development.

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This past Monday at Development Services and Planning Committee, Council unanimously approved the Form and Character Development Permit for our site. Council was very impressed with the detailed architecture, site plan, and overall design. Council also approved the Hazardous Area's Development Permit. Councillors Flynn, Cannon, Eliason, Harrison, and Mayor Bootsma all agreed that we adhered to all the requirements placed before us. We appreciate all of Staff's assistance and the support of the majority of Council to allow the two permits to proceed.

So what happens next? The final Public Hearing and vote will take place next Monday night at 7:00 pm.

We know there is a small group of individuals that are going to try to use this as an opportunity to try to stop more shopping from coming to Salmon Arm. That is where you come in. The visible support we received last year during the Rezoning process was overwhelming and was one of the main reasons we feel Council supported the project.

We need this to happen again on Monday night. We need Council to look out into the seating area, see a mass of YES stickers and know our development has the support of the majority of the community. You do not need to speak unless of course, you want to let Council know that you like what you see!

When: Monday, July 11, 2011 at 7pm
Where: Council Chambers, City Hall

Council Chambers is small so get there early if you want to get a seat. We will be there early handing out stickers so you can show your support.

If Council approves both Development Permits on Monday night, we will be able to start construction next month with the first phase opening in 2012!

See you all Monday night!

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On Monday, July 4th at 8:00 am, there will be a Development Services and Planning Meeting at City Hall Council Chambers.

At this meeting, City Staff and SmartCentres representatives will introduce the details of our proposed Development Permit to Mayor and Council. We are very proud of the project we are putting before Council for their consideration and hope the community is as well.

On the following Monday, July 11th at 7:00 pm, there will be a final Public Meeting on our development in Council Chambers. If Council approves the Development Permit, we will be under construction before the end of July.

It would be greatly appreciated if once again you can attend these two meetings. No one is required to speak, but if you like what you see, it would definitely help. If you are not able to attend this coming Monday's meeting, please attend the July 11th meeting to let the Mayor and Council know you support our development.

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Since our land use approvals in December 2010, SmartCentres has been working hard at developing the look and feel of the shopping centre. On February 28th, 2011, SmartCentres submitted a Development Permit application to the City of Salmon Arm. This is the first step towards finalizing our approvals, securing tenants, and the ultimate construction of the project. Renderings of the Development Permit are included on the website.

As part of the development permit process, we will be appearing before the Design Review Panel in April and we expect to have final approval by Council in May. Construction and site works will start shortly after in spring 2011.

We will continue to keep you informed throughout the Development Permit Process.

Thank you for your continued support.

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It is now official. The Smartcentres development has been approved by Salmon Arm Council on December 20th, 2010. Thank you to everyone for their continued support of the project. Moving forward, we will be working with tenants and actively marketing the site. Once tenants have been confirmed, we will be proceeding with development permits early in the New Year!

Thank you again; this project could not have been approved without your help!

We wish you and your family Happy Holidays!

See you in the New Year!

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Over the past number of years, SmartCentres and our supporters have been working hard to finalize our plans and to provide the residents of Salmon Arm with increased shopping opportunities.

On December 20th, 2010, the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendment will be before Council for Final Reading. This is the last crucial step in the approvals process with the City of Salmon Arm. There will be no presentations and no opportunity for comments by the general public. The meeting will be taking place on:

• Date: Monday, December 20th, 2010
• Time: 10:00 am
• Location: City Hall – Council Chambers 500– 2 Avenue NE Salmon Arm, B.C. V1E 4N2

We need your continued support! Please come out to City Hall, bring your family, friends and neighbours and remember to show up early. Let’s once again show Council the majority of residents support this project!

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Next week, SmartCentres will be relocating some on-site fills and performing planting enhancement work on a portion of our site. We have retained Hoban Construction, a local contractor, to perform this enhancement work over the next 6 weeks.

HISTORY:
Prior to the acquisition of the property by SmartCentres in 2007, portions of the site was filled by the previous owner. Subsequently in 2009, SmartCentres placed additional fill on top of the pre-existing fill. This work was done with notification to the City of Salmon Arm and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. In May 2010, the Riparian Areas Regulation ("RAR") for the property was updated, and a portion of the Streamside Protection and Enhancement Area ("SPEA") setback extended into a portion of the area of the pre-existing fill.

WHAT WE ARE DOING:
SmartCentres will begin work to relocate the new fill placed in 2009 within the SPEA setback. To enhance the area from which the fill is to be removed, SmartCentres will be adding additional topsoil and planting the area with a variety of native plant species. These improvements will enhance the SPEA and create higher value habitat than what previously existed on this portion of the site.

We are pleased to be commencing work on the site and we look forward to proceeding to Final Reading/Adoption by Council.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support on this project.

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After years of hard work and dedication from our supporters, the Mayor and Council voted in favour to move our project forward. In a vote of 5-2 in favour, we have now received 3rd reading at the close of the Public Hearing.

Thank you to all those that supported our project by attending the Public Hearing, speaking in favour, signing the petition, writing letters and emails to City Hall, and generally, participating in the public process. It was the residents of Salmon Arm that have made this project a success!

We will continue to provide you with updates as we move forward through the process.

Again, thank you for your commitment to the process and for your continued support!

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On May 7, 2010 SmartCentres officially submitted a revised application to the City of Salmon Arm for a proposed shopping centre development on the west side of the City. Over the past four months, SmartCentres has been working closely with its consulting team, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry’s Third Party Consultant in completing revised Environmental approvals. SmartCentres has successfully addressed the Ministry’s questions and concerns with respect to the Ministry’s interpretation of the required setbacks to the Salmon River, Shuswap Lake, and Hobb’s Creek.

Following receipt of formal federal and provincial environmental approvals on the revised Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR) report at the end of April, SmartCentres has amended its application. The proposed project is now approximately 22 acres, of which 12 acres is already designated Highway Commercial under the City of Salmon Arm’s OCP. Overall, we are now proposing approximately 240,000 square feet of retail consisting of one anchor tenant and several additional smaller retail buildings of varying sizes.

With the revised plan, SmartCentres will be preserving Hobbs Creek, constructing a community trail and providing additional future Greenway connections, and integrating pedestrian spaces. In addition, this proposed project will set the new standard for stormwater management through the use of bioswales, rooftop storage, and vortechnics. The project will manage and ensure its stormwater is clean and, as an added benefit to the community, will also treat over 350 acres of stormwater that is currently flowing untreated through Hobbs Creek and into Shuswap Lake.

The proposed development will complement other recent proposed developments in Salmon Arm. It will contribute over $1,000,000 in annual taxes as well as create approximately 450 retail and 150 construction jobs in the community. The total investment will be exceed $50,000,000.

Please let your Mayor and Council know you support our revised proposal and plan to attend Public Hearing!!

Thank you for your continued support!

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