Opening delayed for contentious Vernon tourism centre

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted May 12, 2014 at 4:00 PM— updated May 12, 2014 at 5:48 PM
Vernon's new visitor information centre remains in limbo. The facility, next to Civic Arena on 39th

Avenue, was scheduled to open May 1, but a firm timeline is now unknown as the Ministry of Transportation has not approved property rezoning. "The local (ministry) office is waiting for a response from their regional traffic engineers on the matter," states a city administration update to council. The ministry has a role to play because the property is 800 metres off of Highway 97. "Staff is hopeful that a response will be received shortly in order to bring the (rezoning) bylaw to the May 26 council meeting," states the update. However, at least one council member isn't sure the provincial government will sign off on rezoning. "If it ever opens," said Coun. Bob Spiers of the facility. "If they haven't given approval by now, who knows. They've had it for a couple of months. I'm not sure how unusual that is." The new location of the visitor information centre has fuelled considerable debate in the community, with many residents questioning the ability of tourists in RVs to access the site off the highway. Others have challenged the $292,215 cost to renovate the building. However, city officials have insisted that the new location is accessible and central for visitors to walk to services like restaurants and hotels. It has also stated that closing down the current tourism booths at the north and south ends of Vernon and centralizing services will save $70,000 annually. Until a decision is made by the Ministry of Transportation on rezoning, the lease at the south tourism booth, by the army camp, has been extended until the end of June. "It will reopen until such time as it's relocated," said Kim Flick, planning and building services manager.
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Opening Of Visitor Info Centre Delayed
Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 12 May 2014 18:00
The opening has been delayed for Vernon's controversial new visitor information centre. The facility on 39th Avenue by the Civic Arena is still waiting for Transportation Ministry approval, and now won't open until at least June. Acting mayor Juliette Cunningham says the delay may be due to the city's request for a left turn light on the highway at 39th Ave. "That's probably delayed the approval.I don't think that would have been an issue, but they're probably having to have a look at the implications of that because they would have to invest in some of that infrastructure," says Cunningham. While the wait continues, the city has extended the lease to keep using the South visitor info centre until the end of June. Councillor Catherine Lord says when it opens, signage will be important. "I want to know where the signage is going to be because we haven't really seen that plan. If there are areas that have a deficit (in signs), we can identify those and come up with a plan," says Lord. Councillor Bob Spiers remains a critic of the plan, saying the new site will be hard for R-V's to find and get to, with south bound vehicles having to make a left hand turn off the highway, without a turn signal. "I don't think we're gong to have the number of visitors because I haven't seen anything that suggests people will actually take their rec vehicles and make a left hand turn," Spiers tells Kiss FM.