West Kelowna council to hear tempting land swap offer

Daily Courier Staff 2011-02-07  
A controversial land swap proposal should be accepted since it represents a net benefit to the community, West Kelowna council will hear Tuesday.  District staff say it makes sense to accept Ken Mitchell‘s offer to give the municipality a 75-foot-wide lot south of Marina Park in exchange for a 50-foot wide piece of lakefront public property next to his own home.  In addition to the swap, Mitchell is also proposing to give the municipality $800,000.   "Staff is recommending (acceptance) based, in summary, upon the increased level of beachfront park space in the community, improvements to Marina Park playground equipment, and a substantial financial gain," reads part of a report to council by Marnie Manders, director of administration.  The land swap proposal has been a highly contentious matter in West Kelowna since Mitchell put the offer forward last year. Thousands of people signed a petition he organized to promote the idea, agreeing with the view that the expansion of Marina Park is worth the loss of the smaller piece of lakefront property on Whitworth Road.   "This offer increases public access to the lake at a prime location," Coun. David Knowles said when the offer was considered at a council meeting last September.  But there is opposition to the swap from people who say that all existing pieces of public property along the waterfront should be retained, rather than sold off for private use.  "It is my belief that we inherited these accesses on behalf of future generations. Everyone should have access to the water and it is our job to husband the land, not sell or swap it," says Heather Yeats, a local resident who has campaigned against the proposal.  In her report to council, Manders notes that the $800,000 proposed in cash by Mitchell is more than half the municipality‘s total budget allocated for the parks and recreation master plan for the next five years.  "An additional $800,000 would provide an opportunity for council to pursue parkland improvements or acquisitions," Manders says.  If council does not accept his offer by April 30, Mitchell says he plans to sell the property next to Marina Park.