Committee’s actions come under scrutiny

By RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff Sep 09 2007 Morningstar

Questions are arising over plans to turn farm land into a sports complex when it’s already got a frosty reception from a provincial agency. Jim Garlick, a Coldstream councillor, wonders why the Greater Vernon Services Committee has proceeded with the idea of a sports complex on 118 acres of land on Aberdeen Road when the Agricultural Land Commission stated a year ago that it did not favour the idea. “They (GVSC) should have said, ‘Maybe we should go in another direction and this is a non-starter’,” he said.

In response to a GVSC letter, the ALC wrote on Aug. 31, 2006 that it would only consider urban development of a portion of the property if there was consolidation of smaller lots owned by Coldstream Ranch into larger agricultural parcels. “Given the very high agricultural capability of these lands and their current agricultural use, the commission would likely not support the conversion of an additional 40 hectares to non-farm uses,” says the letter from Martin Collins, a planning officer with the ALC. “That is not to say that the commission would dismiss an application that offered a substantive agricultural benefit such as consolidation of active farm land. However, it is not the commission’s mandate to encourage the conversion of high capability farm land to non-farm uses, or suggest ways and means to achieve that end.”

Garlick believes the ALC letter should have led GVSC to consider other options for sports facilities. “Where are we spending our time and resources to get things done?” he said. Gary Corner, GVSC chairman, defends proceeding with sports complex plans despite the ALC response. “They aren’t saying no. All we can do is try,” he said. “We don’t know if it’s going anywhere unless we apply.” Corner added that the ALC considers community use when looking at possible changes to farm land. Garlick is also upset that GVSC contacted the land commission over the issue instead of following regular procedure which is approaching the local municipality and them sending the application on to the ALC. “Who gave that authority to send that application off?” said Garlick. “They were trying to do it behind closed doors. Someone’s hands should get slapped for sending the letter through.” The process is also outlined in the ALC letter of Aug. 31, 2006. “The commission will consider the application when it has been forwarded by the District of Coldstream,” states Collins. Corner denies GVSC was trying to do an end-run around proper process. “Often applications are run by the ALC to see what they think but it’s not a formal application,” he said.
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Sep 09 2007 EDITORIAL Corner stumbles over issue

He may not realize it, but Greater Vernon Services Committee chairman Gary Corner is digging himself into a hole. While he is trying to defend GVSC’s actions over a proposed sports complex in Coldstream, many of his comments don’t hold up when scrutinized further.
Specifically is Corner’s suggestion that it is common to ask the Agricultural Land Commission for advice on a possible land use change before submitting a formal application. But that clearly isn’t the case when you consider a Aug. 31, 2006 letter from the ALC. “It’s not the commission’s mandate to encourage the conversion of high capability farm land to non-farm uses, or suggest ways and means to achieve that end,” writes the ALC. Corner is also contradicted when he suggests the ALC isn’t saying no to the proposal. That may be true, but the ALC makes it clear that approval of a land use change would only occur if there was “a substantive agricultural benefit such as consolidation of active farm land (into larger parcels at Coldstream Ranch).” Unless that becomes part of the plan, it won’t likely go anywhere.

Questions also abound as to why the GVSC contacted the ALC directly when normal process for anyone interested in altering agricultural land use is to contact their municipality first. As mayor of Coldstream, Corner should have known this. There are certainly merits to the proposal, with a sports complex meeting the long-term recreational, social and economic needs of Greater Vernon. But if outstanding concerns are to be addressed, the process followed must be open and transparent. And that certainly doesn’t appear to be the case right now.
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Don Quixote Note: The 2 letters can be found at an August 17 posting of the Coldstreamer.
Original letter from GVSC making the 'informal application' was dated May 8.