Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 18, 2010 12:00 PM
Preserving land for a future trail is running into some opposition. The Ribbons of Green Trails Society has proposed that the City of Vernon set aside a right-of-way for a path as part of rezoning 12 properties along Okanagan Landing Road and next to the airport. However, that isn’t going over well with some of the landowners.
“I don’t get why they want to access all of these private properties,” said Doug MacAuley during a recent public hearing at city hall. MacAuley added that such a project could be costly and there is already a hiking and biking trail in front of the homes on Okanagan Landing Road. “To put a trail on the back of the properties makes no sense to me.” Others expressed concerns about a negative impact on property values and allowing criminal activities to border their property. “To just grab land and say we’ll stick a creek trail there doesn’t seem right,” said Brad Wise.
The Ribbons of Green Trails Society isn’t calling for a trail to be constructed now, just for the land to be set aside. “All we are asking for is that right-of-way to be surveyed,” said president Dave Smith. The society believes that a trail could eventually link Kin Beach with Clarence Fulton Secondary. “It’s a key corridor,” said Smith, adding that the proposal has the support of the city’s advisory planning board. Rob Sawatzky, a society member, says studies indicate that trails don’t negatively impact adjacent properties. “Property that borders a trail or green space increases in value five to seven per cent,” he said. If approved, rezoning would see the 12 properties go from airport industrial to rural residential. The properties had been previously zoned residential but were switched to industrial status in 2004 because of future expansion of the airport. However, the 2008 review of the official community plan determined that land on the south side of Vernon Creek was not required for further expansion of the airport because property north of Tronson Road has been obtained for growth at the airport. “Rezoning would bring them into a legally conforming state,” said Dean Strachan, a city planning assistant. Rezoning requires a final decision from city council.
