Kelowna, CHBC News : Friday, September 16, 2011
Municipalities spend
a lot of money expanding busy streets from two lanes to four to improve traffic
flow. But in Vernon,
the city plans to put a busy commercial street on a bit of a diet, by reducing
the number of lanes. As the only commercial corridor between Vernon’s two main
arteries, 43rd Avenue
sees a lot of traffic, much of it, the heavy duty variety. With that in mind, local business owners are
perplexed by the plan. “It's our livelihood at stake here,” said Harald
Kober, owner of Roko's Auto Service. He wonders why the city seems to be moving towards
a more residential road plan in a neighborhood zoned for commercial
development. Despite his concerns, Kober has no issue with the
concept. “Maybe they're trying to say hey Roko Service,
this is not a 'hood for you anymore. If so, tell us so we can plan
accordingly," Kober said. No one from the City of Vernon was available for comment on Friday. But they say the reasons for the change include
collision and speed reduction, along with increased safety for pedestrians and
cyclists.While the city will take the matter to a public
hearing next Tuesday, many business owners aren’t convinced the politicians are
ready to listen.
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Don Quixote Note: The Tuesday meeting is not a public hearing. It is an information meeting only. Staff will be present to explain the plan.
7 comments:
But they say the reasons for the change include collision and speed reduction, along with increased safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
What a crock of horse radish.
This is simply the bureaucracy running unchecked.
The City of Vernon is out of control. Spending money on items of no real value while important infrastructure deficiences are ignored. It is time this Council and the Mayor took a stand and put this bureaucracy where it belongs-out on the street and on a "Diet"
TOTALLY AGREE! I want to know who in council supports this new skinny road system and they WILL NOT get my vote this election.
Moved by Councillor O’Keefe, seconded by Councillor Gilroy:
THAT Council ratifies and confirms the following resolution adopted at the June 13, 2011, Committee of the Whole meeting of Council:
‘THAT Council instructs staff, that subject to successful award of the 100 percent $868,000 Gas Tax Innovation Fund grant, to proceed with the implementation of the Road Diet in 43rd Avenue between 27th and 32nd Streets.’
CARRIED, with Councillor Spiers opposed.
(Coun. Lee and Baumbrough absent)
I wish I wish -- Maybe I am dreaming but If You do not like something that is happening in City Hall stand up be counted and let Your name be known and when You speak just remember to tell Your fellow citizen to get off there back side and stand next to You as You take a stand.
I have done bussiness - dealt with Rolko Service - the City has dealt with Roko Service - Roko and the other bussiness's on 43rd Ave are fixture's in this town and seriously some of us would never be able to function without there help. Thank You 43rd Ave Bussinesses
Perhaps we should organize a group and provide mystery pickets whenever they try to start this project.
The Unions won't cross a picket line and one would only have to be there at 7 to 9 am each morning. That way the courts wouldn't be able to take any action.
Just a thought, but when you consider the idiocy of the City's actions to spend a Gas Tax grant, what would be unreasonable in a mystery picket.
It cost Mayor Clark an election when she had a Senior Citizen arrested over his chaining himself to the sewage outlet in an effort to stop the city from dumping sewage in Lake Okanagan back around 1990.
what time is the meeting, and where?
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