Thursday, September 08, 2011

GVAC Rejects Proposal For Future Coldstream Park - Mayor complains of inflexible parks policy



There is another dispute over Greater Vernon's parks service. A Coldstream proposal to hand $91,000 back to a developer in exchange for proposed park land at Coldstream Meadows, by Mackie Drive, has been shot down. Mayor Jim Garlick expressed his frustration with the whole process. ``It's that inflexibility which creates the problems here, those friction points,'' said Garlick, following Thursday meeting. He said the decision may affect development in the area where a dementia-Alzheimers facility is planned. Vernon director Jack Gilroy explained his vote against the proposal by stating that there's a `no build' convenant on the land in question. ``Why would we purchase this to make a park that we'll never make when there's already the buffer (for residents) there?'' Parks staff had also recommended Coldstream's proposal be rejected. NORD Administrator Trafford Hall said it did not comply with policy. Garlick suggested, that under the same terms, the  City of Vernon's plan to allow a proposed senior's residence to encroach on parkland by the Schubert Centre could also be rejected. Garlick says, up til now, Coldstream has put ``all'' of its financial resources into the Greater Vernon parks service but would have to consider possible alternatives.

No comments: