Two new gated communities are under construction in Prince George.

The Nechako Waterfront subdivision is a 30-lot bare-land strata development, located just off Brink Place along the Nechako River. The Aspenwood neigbouhood is a 261-lot seniors independent-living community under construction at 9800 Sintich Road, on the other side of Highway 97 from the airport.

Construction of the show home for the Nechako Waterfront development is already underway, David McWalter of McWalter Consulting Ltd., said. McWalter is acting as an agent for the Brink Group, which is developing the neighbourhood.

“There will be gates on the community. It is planned the gates will have licence plate recognition,” McWalter said. “The owners will be able to just drive on in.” Tradespeople and emergency vehicles will also be able to access the community, but all others will need a passcode or to be buzzed in by a resident.

The strata will provide snow removal, garbage collection and landscaping services, he said.

The neighbourhood is aimed at young professionals and retirees who want to be able to travel or be snowbirds for extended periods, while knowing their home is safe and being taken care of, McWalter added.

Several lots have riverfront views and parks, river access, walking trails and a gazebo are planned for the community, he said. No rentals will be allowed in the development, and buyers will select from a mix of one-and-two bedroom plans, which will be built by the developer for a uniform neighbourhood style. Sales of lots are expected to begin once the show home is complete later this year, and the neighbourhood is expected to be built out over the next four years.

“It will be a very, very pleasant place to live,” McWalter said.

Aspenwood sales representative Chad Erickson said construction of phase one of the development, including 27 modular homes and a community clubhouse, began last week. The community clubhouse will include a full kitchen, gym, recreation area and other amenities for residents to socialize and host events, he added.

“It will be a 55+ gated community,” Erickson said. “The gated community aspect… we don’t really have anything similar in Prince George. It will be a key fob or punch code… gated access into and out of the community itself.”

The community will be made up of modular homes, built by B.C.-based home builder and developer Freeport Industries, he said. Residents will buy the home and lease the land it is located on.

“Freeport Industries have 14 of these communities across the province,” Erickson said. “These are modular-built homes. They’re built 80 per cent to completion in the factory, craned onto the site and then they build the garage and the peaked roof. When they’re done, you can’t even tell they are modular homes.”

Prince George currently has four other residential developments listed online as gated communities.