Questions about highrise proposal

Editor: This letter arises from Ron Seymour’s report (Daily Courier, Friday, Aug. 11) on the linear park and waterfront promenade between Rotary Beach and Mission Creek.

Today, an uninviting gravel path heads off from Rotary Beach between grasses and weeds; there is no signpost about public access.

The path shortly converts into a boardwalk in front of the developed properties.

There is one access to the water on a tiny stretch of sandy beach; otherwise, the boardwalk continues beside and through dining tables. The impression is of walking through a restaurant — certainly not of being in a public space.

Now the shoreline from the Eldorado boat launch to the mouth of Mission Creek is about to be developed. I attended a public meeting given by the developer. No rationale was available why the proposal massively exceeds the zoning height limits. No explanation was produced as to how the attractive stretch of Lakeshore Road between Cook and Truswell Roads with its median and one-lane traffic in each direction will handle the proposed new density. But there were many artistic impressions on display of their generous provision of public access to the waterfront.

My concern is that the hype always exceeds the reality.

City council has signalled approval of this proposal. How do the public and the current residents of the area benefit? Dick Scott, Kelowna