Attempt to rewrite OCP just adds fuel to fire

Plan for 5-storey building in Peachland faces fierce opposition

A backlash is brewing in Peachland against a town scheme to rewrite the ofÀcial community plan by changing a few words.

Critics of a recently approved Àve-storey building on Beach Avenue vowed to pack a council meeting Tuesday to protest the “embarrassing” proposal.

“We’re urging everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and to attend the council meeting and public hearing to voice opposition to this Àve-storey building,” said Randy Brophy of the group Friends of Beach Avenue.

Staff’s proposal is an “embarrassing” attempt to head off a legal challenge lawyers have probably advised the municipality it would lose, Ben Yamamoto says.

“Do you really think this strategy will hold up in the court of public opinion,” Yamamoto asks in a letter to all councillors.

Last year, council approved the five-storey, mixed-use project known as Peachtree Village, even though the ofÀcial community plan set a maximum height of three storeys for new development on the street.

Critics, who say the project is too big, have mounted a legal challenge. In response, town staff have come up with the idea of rewriting a short section of the official community plan.

The key alteration would be that rather than “establish” a three-storey maximum for Beach Avenue, the OCP would “encourage” such a limit. As well, a speciÀc exemption in the OCP is proposed for the property where Peachtree Village is planned.

Town staff have said the OCP is not a document that must be strictly adhered to at all times by council, but rather a general guide.

Councillors who approved Peachtree Village acknowledge the controversy it has generated in some quarters, but they believe it is in the best interests of the town.

In a report to council, town staff say the proposed changes to the OCP “may assist in avoiding signiÀcant legal expenses associated with a petition submitted to the Supreme Court of B.C.”