City clarifies highway process

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Mar 5, 2014 at 1:00 AM
The City of Vernon is clarifying the proposal to relocate tourism services. During a recent public hearing, city staff told council that the Ministry of Transportation had approved a zoning bylaw for a 39th Avenue property, where the tourist information is scheduled to be located. However, that is actually not the case. “Staff made an error,” said Kim Flick, planning and building services manager, adding that there was a communications breakdown in her department. The ministry has a role to play because of the property’s proximity to Highway 97 and potential impact on traffic flow. “We are working with the ministry and need its approval for the bylaw because the property is 800 metres off of the highway,” said Flick. According to the Ministry of Transportation, it’s aware of the city’s proposal to relocate the visitor information centre to 39th Avenue, next to Civic Arena. “The municipality provided us with their traffic impact assessment for the highway intersections related to the new VIC location, for our review,” states the ministry. “We also understand municipal council gave the zoning bylaw third reading and that it is now on its way to us for review and approval.” The ministry states that once it has reviewed the bylaw and the city’s traffic impact assessment, a decision will be made regarding possible bylaw approval.