(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

A nearly 300 home subdivision proposal in Kamloops's Juniper neighbourhood may play a role in creating more emergency routes.

City council has approved the first steps to pave the way for a subdivision that would extend both Qu'Appelle Boulevard and Coldwater Drive to Rose Hill Drive.

Parts of the Juniper neighbourhood were threatened when a lightning strike caused a wildfire within city limits on July 1.

Firefighters attacked the blaze quickly while RCMP conducted a tactical evacuation of residents they determined were at the highest risk.

READ MORE: Kamloops residents recount terrifying night of wildfire and evacuations

However, when other residents outside the tactical evacuation area tried to fell, they hit traffic bottlenecks on Highland Drive, the single egress route.

No homes were damaged by the Juniper East wildfire, but in the fallout, many residents called for more routes out of the neighbourhood.

The property proposed for the new subdivision, owned by Juniper West Developments, would extend Qu'Appelle Boulevard nearly all the way Rose Hill Drive, but stops short of Crown land. The city is working with the provincial government to see the access road completed.

READ MORE: An initiative to FireSmart Kamloops neighbourhoods fizzles

If developed, nearly half of the 45 hectare plot of land would be left as open green space as a park and wildlife corridor, Marvin Kwiatkowski, director of development, engineering and sustainability for the City of Kamloops, said at an Oct. 5 council meeting.

While still in early planning phases, a report to council from city staff says the subdivision would include 200 single-family lots and 95 multi-family units as currently proposed by the developer.

Council voted in favour of rezoning the area in anticipation of the subdivision development, with a public hearing on Nov. 2.

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