By Richard Rolke Nov 29 2006 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/
One can’t blame Cummins Road residents for feeling like they
have been completely misled by the City of Vernon. Eight months to the day, a majority of council went back on a decision not to allow the Elks hall to move into the old Lakers Golf clubhouse on Cummins Road. As of Monday, rezoning the site for such a use is back on the books and headed to public hearing, yet again. “I’m troubled by this turn of events,” said resident Kevin Lepp. No kidding. Residents earlier this year lobbied the politicians and attended a public hearing, where their opinions were made known. Based on that, council defeated rezoning and the residents went home thinking that was the end of the issue. Now, they’re reliving the uncertainty all over again, and questioning if democracy actually means anything. Some councillors have remained consistent on the matter, but the most shocking reversal is Jack Gilroy. On Monday, Gilroy said, “I’m in favour of moving them (Elks) down there. It won’t be a hazard.” But on March 27, he stated, “We can find a place downtown. It (Cummins Road) was too far out for the elderly.” And if you think the city is trying to move the Elks from 
downtown to Cummins Road for the betterment of the club, think again. The city finds itself in a bind that it’s trying to get out of. Specifically, the city wants to own the Elks lodge on 30th Street so it can justify its costly purchase of the surrounding block. All of that land was snapped up for a cultural complex, but the wheels have fallen off that bus. There are suggestions of commercial and residential uses, but, at this time, it’s nothing more than talk. A firm plan may not exist but, for some reason, the city wants to keep adding to its land base. At the same time that the city wants the Elks hall, it owns the former Lakers Golf clubhouse. Moving the Elks there would take care of all of the city’s problems but create a headache for Cummins Road residents. Residents have absolutely nothing against the Elks and the charitable work it does, but they are concerned a social club will create unacceptable levels of noise and traffic. It may be an over-reaction, but they are legitimate concerns and I would suspect any neighbourhood — including those councillors live in — would share them. I personally believe a more suitable location for the Elks hall would be downtown because it is central and on major transit routes. But that would mean the city would have to go and buy another piece of land and admit that its past activities were off the mark. If anything, the Elks are being treated with as little respect as Cummins Road residents by being dragged into the middle of a nasty squabble. As of Tuesday, the Elks hadn’t even been notified by the city that rezoning of the Lakers site was being reconsidered. Also galling is that at the same time civic leaders whine about the lack of green space, they want to rezone property from parks to tourist commercial and four-plex residential. Wouldn’t a better use of the Lakers site be to include it in the adjacent Marshall Fields? In the end, the council that promised a new era of openness and listening to people is leaving a bitter taste in many residents’ mouths.
One can’t blame Cummins Road residents for feeling like they
have been completely misled by the City of Vernon. Eight months to the day, a majority of council went back on a decision not to allow the Elks hall to move into the old Lakers Golf clubhouse on Cummins Road. As of Monday, rezoning the site for such a use is back on the books and headed to public hearing, yet again. “I’m troubled by this turn of events,” said resident Kevin Lepp. No kidding. Residents earlier this year lobbied the politicians and attended a public hearing, where their opinions were made known. Based on that, council defeated rezoning and the residents went home thinking that was the end of the issue. Now, they’re reliving the uncertainty all over again, and questioning if democracy actually means anything. Some councillors have remained consistent on the matter, but the most shocking reversal is Jack Gilroy. On Monday, Gilroy said, “I’m in favour of moving them (Elks) down there. It won’t be a hazard.” But on March 27, he stated, “We can find a place downtown. It (Cummins Road) was too far out for the elderly.” And if you think the city is trying to move the Elks from 
downtown to Cummins Road for the betterment of the club, think again. The city finds itself in a bind that it’s trying to get out of. Specifically, the city wants to own the Elks lodge on 30th Street so it can justify its costly purchase of the surrounding block. All of that land was snapped up for a cultural complex, but the wheels have fallen off that bus. There are suggestions of commercial and residential uses, but, at this time, it’s nothing more than talk. A firm plan may not exist but, for some reason, the city wants to keep adding to its land base. At the same time that the city wants the Elks hall, it owns the former Lakers Golf clubhouse. Moving the Elks there would take care of all of the city’s problems but create a headache for Cummins Road residents. Residents have absolutely nothing against the Elks and the charitable work it does, but they are concerned a social club will create unacceptable levels of noise and traffic. It may be an over-reaction, but they are legitimate concerns and I would suspect any neighbourhood — including those councillors live in — would share them. I personally believe a more suitable location for the Elks hall would be downtown because it is central and on major transit routes. But that would mean the city would have to go and buy another piece of land and admit that its past activities were off the mark. If anything, the Elks are being treated with as little respect as Cummins Road residents by being dragged into the middle of a nasty squabble. As of Tuesday, the Elks hadn’t even been notified by the city that rezoning of the Lakers site was being reconsidered. Also galling is that at the same time civic leaders whine about the lack of green space, they want to rezone property from parks to tourist commercial and four-plex residential. Wouldn’t a better use of the Lakers site be to include it in the adjacent Marshall Fields? In the end, the council that promised a new era of openness and listening to people is leaving a bitter taste in many residents’ mouths. 
No comments:
Post a Comment