Written by Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 23 February 2010 11:43107.5 KISSFM:
The rezoning of the Hesperia site in Okanagan Landing is just one step from final approval. Council has approved third reading to rezone the 69 acre site from agricultural to comprehensive development zone. The city-driven project could see up to 1,000 attainable housing units built over 30 years, above Okanagan Avenue. Councillor Bob Spiers says the process is so far along, with a lot of money invested that it has to go forward. However he disagrees with the city initiating the project several years ago. "I would have probably suggested that we sell off the property and leave it to private developers to develop, because I don't believe municipal government does housing that well." Mayor Wayne Lippert says council has made changes to the plan to address concerns raised by nearby residents at a public hearing. "There's been very little opposition but I think that goes to the Hesperia Land Development Corp. doing a good job, going to the public and residents a number of times, finding their concerns and working to address them." Lippert says the changes include reducing some of the housing density, and some of the height of buildings to improve sight lines. "Their (residents) only opposition was they were used to looking at the field and the hillside, and they knew that change would come because at one time their property was open land."
3 comments:
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe ORL has no financial reserve for this project which seems to have risen from 9 Million to 11 million. ORL does however have the right to raise the money by taxing citizens of Vernon without the overview of Vernon City Council or seeking input from the citizenry. In other words how much is this library going to cost each and everyone of us?
What a farce the whole approval process has been on this project proposal. ALR removal without any publicized development plan, millions spent on mock sale even before rezoning approval, and now a council stuck in changed market afraid to put the breaks on the whole mistake. You are absolutely right Bob, the City should not be in the development business. Wait until private developers realize that public funds are being risked to compete with them for the same potential buyers.
This project's location flies in the face of our OCP, and all of OCP guiding principles (especially the one about development paying for itself!!!)
Consider the amount of real estate already for sale in Vernon - 75% of current inventory is under $400,000. Consider the number of building sites that are not yet built out. Consider the location of these proposed 1,000 units, 6km from town centre. Why on earth did we bother with an OCP?
Of course it was already a done deal, as soon as the City set up the aptly named "Hesperia Lands Development Corporation" in the first place.
Let's be clear that the citizenry never had a choice: about whether this project should proceed given current market conditions, about where this project should be located. All of this was decided before the citizens were asked for any input.
Funny how the Mayor doesn't remember any negative comments about the project... and here I thought Council had a responsibility to hear and consider all submissions, positive and negative, to the Public Hearing?
I guess when you don't remember anything, you don't need to worry about it.
There were more than a few people who questioned the development of an urban sprawl property with our tax dollars, so far from City Centre.
Thanks for showing us how much our input really matters.
Post a Comment