Band joins Banks Crescent discussion
PIB chief had expressed concern at not being consulted about development
Special to The Herald
Communications regarding the proposed Banks Crescent development between Summerland and the Penticton Indian band are off to a good start.
“Good discussions between staffs occurred on both the Banks Crescent application and development in general,” director of development services Dean Strachan told council Monday.
Strachan was referring to the meeting of James Pepper, director of the PIB’s Natural Resources Department, who met with Strachan and district development planner Alex Kondor on March 14.
Summerland staff provided additional information requested by PIB staff at the meeting.
“PIB staff indicated they would be preparing a further response for council’s consideration,” Strachan said.
Further discussions between staff of both communities are proposed following completion of their review, according to Strachan.
The March 14 meeting was in response to a Jan. 26 letter from Chief Chad Eneas in which he expressed the PIB’s disappointment at not being included in a meaningful way in discussions regarding the proposed development.
In his update on the proposed Banks Crescent project, Strachan mentioned correspondence from Summerland Trout Hatchery manager Kyle Girgan, in which he stated the developer must have a provincial groundwater licence for a contingency water supply before the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. can support the proposed development.
The licensing process depends in part on the results of a provincial government review that includes mandatory referrals to First Nations and separate stakeholder consultations.
Also included in Strachan’s update was that the district staff are now reviewing the additional storm water design, which includes an off-site line routing plan, prepared by the applicant.
Staff are also reviewing preliminary designs for the preferred water service option submitted by the applicant’s engineers.
“Staff will engage our consulting engineers for further review and modelling,” Strachan said.