Risk to hatchery too great, Summerland council told
Trout hatchery operator among critics of proposed condos, care home at public hearing
The president of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. delivered the strongest statement heard at Monday afternoon’s public hearing on the proposed Banks Crescent development in Summerland.
“We cannot accept the risk and strongly oppose the iCasa development as it currently stands,” said president Andrew Wilson.
Banks Crescent is sometimes referred to as iCasa, especially by the developers behind the project, the Lark Group.
The FFSBC operates the Summerland Trout Hatchery, whose sole supply of water comes from Shaughnessy Springs, an outlet from an unmapped aquifer under the proposed development.
The water monitoring strategy suggested by the Lark Group “does nothing for us if we are dealing with dirty water and dead fish,” Wilson said.
The society has consistently stated that the identification of a contingency water source is a necessity for its support of the project.
Wilson travelled from Victoria to tell Mayor Peter Waterman and councillors that the society is maintaining its stance against the development.
The FFSBC is contracted by the province to stock lakes throughout the province, and the Summerland hatchery supplies one million fish each year for 300 lakes, he explained.
“Please don’t approve this project without knowing it won’t be affecting our operations,” said hatchery manager Kyle Girgan.
Several of the nearly three dozen speakers at Monday afternoon’s session mentioned the threat to the hatchery as a significant reason for their opposition to the development.
Wendy Janz reminded Waterman and councillors of their resolution in January 2017 that they would not approve the project without the hatchery’s support.
Whether or not the society’s continued lack of support proves key to council’s decision on the project is at the top of many minds.
Gary Tamblyn, who owns the land — along with the Lang family of Naramata — wants to leave a legacy for Summerland by providing a high-quality seniors care facility.
“We will bring 110 years of health-care experience to the project,” said Helen Byrne.
Byrne is national vice-president of the non-profit Saint Elizabeth Health Care, which has partnered with the Lark Group.
Summerland resident Alison Crawford spoke of her concern about the lack of confirmation by Lark on the care levels to be provided.
“At an open house, they said the market condos would be built first and then the care facilities, depending on need,” she said.
Brian Udal and Chris Haessig, who each recently moved to Summerland, said they do not support the project.
“I can’t understand why you’d want to trade what you have for a paltry half-million in tax revenue,” Udal said.
If approved, the project would involve the construction of five sixstorey buildings over three levels of underground parking on formerly agricultural zone land in a bowl-shaped site at 13610 Banks Crescent.
Lark Group senior vice-president Kirk Fisher recently told The Herald that the total capital cost would be $125 million.
Construction would create 200 to 300 jobs over four years, and the finished project would result in 75 to 100 permanent jobs with $5 million in annual salaries.