By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: July 31, 2008
The City of Vernon is protesting a proposed development in the adjacent rural area. Council is writing the North Okanagan Regional District about the 28-lot Vernon Hill Ranch subdivision on Galiano Road. “It’s really important that we communicate our concerns to the regional district,” said Coun. Buffy Baumbrough. “This development doesn’t necessarily meet Smart Growth principles.” NORD’s Electoral Area Services Committee recently gave three readings to a rezoning application from Boss Creek Development. Coun. Barry Beardsell is concerned about supplying water to the area, as well as sewage treatment and roads. “We don’t want to see any scarring of the hillside in terms of how the roads are done,” he said. Beardsell also believes that NORD requirements for sewer, roads and water may not meet city standards. “It’s an area that could ultimately come within our boundaries,” he said, adding that it could cost Vernon residents considerable money to upgrade standards in the future. The city is not part of NORD’s planning function so it has no official role in the approval process.
“But we have had some input through regional growth management and they took our hillside development guidelines and looked at them,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert. Lippert is concerned that NORD directors may see the city’s concerns as interference. “Despite what we say, they will do what they wish,” he said. NORD officials insist that the city’s concerns are being taken seriously, including those involving infrastructure and the environment. And Rob Smailes, development services manager, says there is no guarantee that the developer will receive final approval for rezoning. “They have to satisfy several conditions for adoption.” Among the conditions are ensuring public access to adjacent Crown land, an environmental impact assessment, parkland dedication and approval from the Agricultural Land Commission for a second access on to McLeish Road. Smailes isn’t sure when NORD will consider final adoption of the rezoning application. “It’s off the regional district’s hands at this moment and is in the hands of the ALC,” he said. Back in December, NORD refused to consider any further zoning changes for Vernon Hill Ranch until the developer addressed a number of outstanding issues. Since then, Boss Creek has scaled back the project from 140 to 28 lots, and proposed the second access from McLeish Road.
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City must mind its business Morning Star Editorial
The City of Vernon has enough on its own plate, without worrying about what other jurisdictions are doing. In expressing concern about a proposed 28-lot residential subdivision on Galiano Road in the BX, Coun. Buffy Baumbrough states the project doesn't meet Smart Growth principles. And there is validity to that argument as the development will be some distance from town and people will have to drive. But for the City of Vernon to make this an issue is like the pot calling the kettle black. Many residents in Vernon are concerned about the hillside developments that have taken hold in recent years or those miles away from the central core. And it's not just previous councils to blame. Current council is pushing for development of the Hesperia lands in Okanagan Landing, and some residents have suggested that is a continuation of sprawl.
Coun. Barry Beardsell is worried that sewer and water services installed in the Galiano Road subdivision won't meet city standards, and Vernon taxpayers will be left paying for upgrades if that area is ever amalgamated into the city. Once again, another valid point when one considers that dealing with infrastructure after the 1993 annexation of Okanagan Landing was costly for the city. But there's no guarantee that the BX will ever join Vernon, and the infrastructure standards required for a municipality are not necessarily needed in a rural setting. The developer will meet the guidelines set out by the regional district and the provincial government, and that is all that can be required of him. Ultimately, there is nothing stopping the city from providing information and advice to the regional district about development in the electoral areas. But at the end of the day, it's none of council's business.
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