Davison Rock won’t be sold

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 14, 2010 7:00 PM

A property commonly known as Davison Rock won’t be sold by the City of Vernon. On Monday, a majority of council refused to give third reading to a bylaw to rezone 3097 Davison Rd. from agricultural to rural small holdings. The goal had been to subdivide the 23-acre, city-owned site so one lot could be sold and other remain as a natural area. “There was no one that supported it at the public hearing,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol. The eastern, nine-acre portion is largely agricultural while the remainder has steep rocky slopes. A staff report indicates the rocky area has high ecological values, including rattlesnake habitat. “We are spending millions of dollars to try and locate public land. People have said keep this land public,” said Nicol.

Also shooting down rezoning were Mayor Wayne Lippert and Councillors Bob Spiers and Shawn Lee. While a park is not an allowed use in the Agricultural Land Reserve, Spiers believes that may be possible in the future. “Let’s not sell off the land now and regret it later,” he said. Support for rezoning and subdivision came from Councillors Jack Gilroy, Mary-Jo O’Keefe and Buffy Baumbrough. “This land is stagnant. I don’t see anything wrong with someone developing the land to farm,” said Gilroy, adding that a local resident has been leasing the entire property for years. “They can develop the land for farm. They’re not going to put a lot of money into leased land.”

O’Keefe expressed concern about comments made during the recent public hearing. “We’re not building a high-rise there. It’s in the ALR and will remain in the ALR,” she said of the property. As a result of the rezoning bylaw being defeated, city staff has been asked to consider options for the property, including a long-term lease for someone to farm it.