Too many questions are unanswered

Dear Editor:

Penticton residents need to voice their opposition to a proposed 320-home subdivision by Canadian Horizons. As with most cities, the development process is loaded with jargon and larded with legalese, then, more often than not, the plans get approved anyway leaving neighbours feeling bitter and snubbed.

That being said, there has been no transparency from the City of Penticton about the development which leaves many unanswered questions.

The newly revised Official Community Plan is to provide a framework of goals and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use within Penticton’s boundaries. Section 4.1.1.4 of the OCP States;

• “Ensure all new developments fully cover the cost of the required infrastructure and services they require, including roads, water, sewer, storm water, and provision of parks, schools, and emergency services.”

But. what does this OCP clause mean? Will the city require the developer, Canadian Horizons, to pay for all infrastructure cost inclusive of building schools and putting in an emergency services building (fire hall)?

Let’s take the emergency services provision requirement as an example.

“Has the fire chief and his staff been consulted as to how the fire department plans on providing a realistic response time that meets the standards set out by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)?”

In NFPA 1710 (Standard for the Organization and Deployment of Fire Suppression Operations, Emergency Medical Operations, and Special Operations to the Public by Career Fire Departments) establishes the following total response time criteria as the benchmark;

• Alarm Answering Time: 15 seconds,

• Alarm Processing Time: 64 seconds,

• Turnout Time: 60 seconds for EMS responses; 80 seconds for fire responses, and

• First Engine Arrival on Scene Time: 240 seconds (four minutes) with a minimum staffing of four personnel.

It is imperative that political decisionmakers, understand how fire department response times will affect potential developments such as Spiller Road.

Then there are other questions about apparatus acquisition and staffing that will cost taxpayers upwards of $8 to $15 million for a fire hall and apparatus, plus all the yearly maintenance and staffing cost should a fire hall be deemed necessary.

This is only a small sample of the many questions that taxpayers need answers to, or, is the city and developer going to spin doctor the information with the taxpayers once again going to be on the hook.

William Duff

Penticton