Residents divided over city’s plans

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: August 12, 2008

A document that’s supposed to provide Vernon with a vision for the future is revealing significant divisions. About 200 people attended a public hearing on the city’s proposed official community plan Monday, and there was a clear rift between those who believe the document will prevent future sprawl and those who fear that it will restrict them from developing their own properties. “It’s a forward-looking document. The document is very visionary,” said resident Eric Kowalski. “But my concern is that council will be under huge pressure to change pieces of it.” And that was evident during the two-and-a-half hour meeting as numerous property owners asked that their lands be designated for uses other than those identified in the OCP. “I’ll fight for the right to subdivide my land which is what I was told I could do when I bought it,” said Jim Kennedy, who owns 120 acres along Eastside Road.

Other property owners on Eastside Road are also upset that the OCP calls for the lands to switch from urban growth to rural agriculture. To red circle an area and take away the flexibility that was there in the past seems discriminatory,” said Meredith Pue. Lynn Kemper said her family has owned land on Eastside Road since 1953 and the city had previously encouraged development of it. There was never any public opposition to developing these lands.” Brian Usher, a retired developer, slammed council, saying that restricting the supply of land in the OCP will drive up the cost of housing. Decisions are being made by academics and they are playing with people’s lives,” he said.

But there was some support for land designation changes. “What’s in the best interest of an individual land owner is not necessarily in the best interest of the community as a whole,” said resident Vivian Merchant. That was also the view of Kay Stamboulieh. “It’s a document that will change the way Vernon has been operating, and it’s a change for the better,” she said. The primary focus of the new OCP would be neighbourhood centres where people could work and shop where they live. That got the support of Jennifer Miles. “Don’t allow further deterioration of the land base,” she said. Joan DeBella insisted that the proposed OCP will move Vernon away from sprawl. “We are trying to have a viable community, especially for our younger generations,” she said.

Other issues also arose during the hearing, including the possibility of houses at the west end of the airport runway. “This is inconsistent with all airport development in B.C.,” said resident Victor Cumming. There were also calls for transit to be expanded as a way of keeping vehicles off the road and getting the public more active. “The transit system needs a fast injection of buses,” said Audrey Pope. James Love pushed for the now defunct western bypass concept to be resurrected to deal with traffic congestion. “Not having a bypass, we will become Kelowna II,” he said.

A second public hearing on the proposed OCP will be held Sept. 8, and then the document will go before council for consideration.“No decisions have been made. This is a draft plan,” said Mayor Wayne Lippert.