Tourism,recreation ignoredbyCity

A revised proposal by Surreybased Canadian Horizons for land the company owns near the garbage dump was recently presented to Penticton Council (Herald, May 18).

The staff report also proposed a new “Country Cluster Residential” Zone, on the basis that the subdivision would reduce the density allowed in the 2019 OCP’s Future Land Use designation.

In the report to council, a principal justification for the application was that these lands have been designated for development since the 1980s. Overlooked however, was the fact that both the 2005 Northeast Sector Plan and 2014 Spiller Road/Reservoir Road Neighborhood Concept Plan were approved by Councils of the day despite substantial and rational opposition submitted by Penticton’s citizenry.

Among other concerns ignored were existing tourism and recreation values of the Naramata Bench’s scenic landscape as significant and proven drivers of Penticton’s tourism economy.

Additionally there was no topographic map, which would have disclosed the complex terrain involved in this development. These matters are only the tip of the iceberg when considering the unique context of this proposed land use change.

A question here is that given the above, should Canadian Horizons’ property (and others on the Bench to follow, as clearly indicated in the drawing of their current subdivision roads) be cited as a future urban growth area at all?

An alternate recommendation appeared in the report, suggesting a deferred decision until an OCP review has taken place.

That could be soon, given that both Mayor John Vassilaki and the Director of Development Services Blake Laven have publicly suggested they believe a review is necessary before the stated deadline of 2024.

At the May 17 Council meeting however, staff recommended against their own alternate recommendation because of the (sic) inconvenience it would cause the Developer.

Surely we can have a community discussion about the need for urban growth on the Naramata Bench, especially given that Penticton is exceeding its own growth targets.

Also, a proposed 700 home subdivision in Upper Wiltse already has adjacent critical infrastructure such as water, sewer and appropriate access roads, while the subject area near the dump does not.

It’s amazing that City staff would propose a new zone to help facilitate Canadian Horizons’ latest subdivision proposal without apparent consideration of the above and other pertinent factors.

Every developer should be so fortunate.

Loraine Stephanson Penticton