Multipleconcerns aboutdevelopment

Re: development proposal on the Official Community Plan amendment and Rezoning at 850 Wiltse Blvd/160 Crow Place (North Wiltse Block Lands).

1. Have any of the city councillors actually driven up to the area and walked it to see what the area looks like?

2. Are the existing roads adequate for access to the proposed subdivision? The pressure on Wiltse, Pineview and Green will be astronomical.

3. Could another access road be built towards the south end of the proposed subdivision?

4. What plan is in place to increase traffic control with stop lights or four-way stops at intersections?

5. What consideration is given to where children will attend school? A subdivision with 700 homes will cause Wiltse Elementary to burst.

6. Will there be a school bus route planned for middle and high-schoolers?

7. There is simply no transit corridor in the proposed area.

We are trying to get people out of their cars — this proposal will only exacerbate the problem because everyone will need to drive.

8. The issue of water/hydro/storm sewer requires more attention. The push is on for electric vehicles — where is the infrastructure for the amount of hydro required to charge these vehicles?

9. The parkland proposed is under the BC Hydro lines, something that Hydro requires to be reserved anyway, so there is no parkland being “set aside” — it’s just smoke and mirrors.

10. The destruction of existing wildlife habitat is encroaching further on deer, coyotes and bear, already an issue in this area.

11. What plan is in place for evacuation routes in the case of disaster (fire/earthquake)?

12. The developer has already circulated a brochure that indicates that properties will be in the $400-$500,000 range and finished homes in the $900,000 – $1.6 million range.

We all know that building prices are not coming down, so this is probably a low number.

Is that “affordable” in your book?

13. The developer’s brochure talks only about the recreational opportunities — there is no encouragement for people to bring business or jobs to the city.

I don’t believe that the process has been thought out at all with regard to the impact this will have on the city’s already stressed resources. This particular plot of land might be better suited to a dedicated, accessible recreational area/park. If the city wants to increase high-density development with walkability/bike access, this is not the application to approve.

Tom Dunn Penticton