City Plan Should Include Bypass

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 11 September 2013 10:39 
A Vernon councillor is still pushing for the city to think about protecting land for a future highway bypass. Bob Spiers would like to see the issue addressed in the city's official community plan which is being updated. "I feel we should have something about a bypass. I don't give a darn which one it is. We've got to look at the future and say 'We need a bypass. Let's put it in there,'" says Speirs. While Spiers earlier felt a route on the west side of Okanagan Lake might work best, he says a specific area for the route doesn't have to be clarified at this point. "Whether it's west, east, or an overpass type of deal, there should be something in the OCP that we need a bypass," he tells Kiss FM. A plan for a western bypass through parts of Bella Vista and Mission Hill, was shelved by council in 2008 due to opposition. OCP's provide a longer term vision for the community, and according to the Local Government Act, an OCP is a statement of objectives and policies to guide decisions on planning and land use management.