Transit picks up park depot

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: April 27, 2011 1:00 AM
 Plans for a transit terminal have shifted out of neutral and are driving ahead.  In a 4-2 vote Tuesday, council gave the green light to Vernon’s main transit terminus being constructed on 31st Avenue next to Cenotaph Park.  “It will add vibrancy to the park,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe.  The concept was originally presented to council March 30 but it was deferred so more details could be provided about the potential impact to the park and whether other locations would be suitable.  Coun. Buffy Baumbrough expects a transit depot will lead to more people using Cenotaph Park. “When you’re waiting for the bus with your kids, you will have a nice greenspace,” she said.  However, not everyone is convinced this is the best route.  “It’s about the vision and downtown, greenspace is limited,” said Coun. Patrick Nicol.  Construction of the terminus will require some land from the park and two 70-year-old trees will be removed.  “To try and revive an area by where buses go to, I don’t get that,” said Nicol.  Besides Nicol, opposition came from Coun. Bob Spiers, who says downtown redevelopment plans, such as residential housing, should occur first.  “It’s premature,” he said of the transit terminal.  “It could have waited a couple of years and we could have made sure that was the right spot.”  Mayor Wayne Lippert voted in favour of the terminus but he has some reservations about idling buses infringing on the park.  “Staff makes it difficult when they say we need more greenspace but then they want to put transit in the middle of greenspace,” he said.  “I’m not opposed to it being there, but I want to make sure it’s done right.” Construction of the terminus — which will lead that portion of 31st Avenue being closed to through-traffic — is expected to begin this summer. Coun. Jack Gilroy supported the terminus while Coun. Shawn Lee was absent.