A Vernon land owner says he will have a family meeting and decide if 242 hectares of land in the Commonage will be subdivided. Bob Armstrong made that comment after city council approved a variance to allow him to subdivide a 200 acre lot near Chum Road which is larger than what's normally allowed. Opponents like Dave Kennedy wanted the permit rejected, saying it sets a precedent for more development in that natural area. "They did have the option of saying no, and leaving the developer with his options. It's as simple as that. Why wouldn't they say no?" Kennedy, with the group North Okanagan Natural Areas Preservation Committee, says the variance is a major departure from the intent of the current zoning and is a precedent that could be repeated in other similarly zoned areas. "The lot sizing is about real estate values, not sensitive habitat values." Council members say it will give the city more control over protecting sensitive areas, using covenants. Armstrong says critics have to realize, he has the right to develop the land. "The city had the opportunity to buy it as a park at one time and they didn't, but they (opponents) still want it as a park even though it's private land and that really doesn't work." Armstrong says a lot of work has been put into preserving the environment and wildlife on the lot. "That's why we have that 200 acre parcel that's not really sterilized but it's in the best interest of the environment, the wildlife and agricultural land components. It's a great thing to have it so it can restore itself again. it's been trampled and trodden and run over with dogs forever, and I think it can be more beautiful there than it is now." Opponent Linda Kennedy questions how much of of the sensitive areas will be protected. "They're using a map supplied by the engineering company, but we have no signed piece of paper from their biologist that says exactly where those sensitive areas are."
Armstrong is proposing a 28 lot subdivision on 242 hectares with the approval for that coming from a previous regional district decision. The opponents plan to be back at council August 8th to make what they call a constructive submission on the issue of development in rural areas of the city.
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