City tries to keep process on track

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - February 20, 2008

There’s more to Vernon’s draft transportation plan than just a proposed highway bypass. That is the message the city is trying to get out after a couple of public open houses on the document. “The transportation plan is about alternate transportation and using existing networks,” said Kim Flick, a long range planner.However, many of the details are apparently being ignored as residents target just one element of the plan.“People are focused on corridor protection for the western bypass,” said Flick. The fact that city staff has recommended preservation of land for the western bypass as a long-term goal has upset some residents. They claim the route would disrupt existing neighbourhoods and destroy farm land and natural grasslands while diverting business from Vernon’s downtown core. But Flick says the transportation plan only calls for protecting the corridor and there is no guarantee the bypass would be constructed. She added that if other short and medium-term aspects of the plan are pursued, the matter of the bypass may not have to be addressed for at least 40 to 50 years.

Other components of the transportation plan include extending some existing roads to improve traffic flow, extending 27th Street through Polson Park to reach Highway 97 and expanding transit, cycling and pedestrian options. More open houses will be held today at Okanagan Landing Elementary from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.; the Halina Centre Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.; and at the Vernon Recreation Complex until Feb. 29 from 3 to 6 p.m. As part of the open houses, residents are asked to fill out a survey on transportation issues.The city will hold a public input session at city hall March 25 at 5:30 p.m. It will be attended by members of council. Flick is adamant that public input gathered at the sessions will become part of the transportation plan process. “There is no hidden agenda. If the results of the survey don’t support corridor protection, we won’t recommend corridor protection to council,” she said. The city isn’t the only organization trying to get the public involved over the draft transportation plan. The North Okanagan Naturalists Club will hold a public meeting Feb. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Schubert Centre.

“We are trying to have this as a true community input session,” said Jim Bodkin, club member. The focus of the meeting will be the western bypass and the potential negative impact on the environment, and specifically the Bella Vista grasslands. Among those participating in the club’s meeting will be the City of Vernon, the Western Corridor Impact Assessment Committee and the Sustainable Environment Network Society. Bodkin is hoping residents will attend the meeting as a way of getting better informed. “We want lots of time for questions and input. We will get everyone’s point of view up there and have a debate,” he said. The North Okanagan Naturalists Club recently came out opposed to the western bypass and preservation of a corridor for it.The group insists that a bypass will lead to more development, and that a highway doesn’t fit into the city’s mandate. “The city should concentrate on city traffic matters and stop trying to second guess the provincial government. The province says the city is jumping the gun,” said Bodkin.