Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Monday, 09 June 2014 17:15
All the approvals are in place and Vernon's controversial new visitor information centre on 39th Avenue could open as early as Tuesday. Councillor Brian Quiring thinks the site by the Civic Arena, is great. "Yes, because it's downtown, and I think it will bring people into the downtown, and that's exactly what we want," Quiring tells Kiss FM. Councillor Bob Spiers was the lone person on the six member council to vote against the rezoning from commercial to public institutional. "I think it is a ridiculous location that will just decrease the number of people that utilize the booth," says Spiers. The city is closing the visitor centres at each end of town, in favour of a centralized unit, which staff say will save 70-thousand dollars a year. The city spent $292,000 to fix up the building which it has purchased previously. Mayor Rob Sawatzky says most visitors get their info online, but centralizing the centres has been the trend everywhere. "The people that do want a physical site, the best practice is to get them downtown to see the heart of the community, so this fits that," says the mayor. Council had been waiting for final approval of the plan from the BC Transportation Ministry which has to support any initiatives 800 metres from a highway (32nd Street-Highway 97) There is still no left turn signal at 39th Ave and the highway which some critics say will be a big deterrent for southbound vehicles with RV's trying to make a left turn off the highway to visit the centre.
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Vernon's new visitor information centre opens its doors
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jun 9, 2014 at 5:00 PM
The controversy is over as Vernon opens its new visitors information centre. The facility is expected to open Tuesday next to Civic Arena. "We're off to the race. We're excited to make the move," said Kevin Poole, the city's economic development manager. The centralization of visitor services from two locations at the north and south end of Vernon to one site caused extensive debate in the community. Some residents were concerned tourists in RVs would be unable to turn off the highway easily while others questioned the $292,215 cost for renovations. The city had originally hoped the centre would open May 1 but a delay occurred because the Ministry of Transportation had not approved property rezoning. Ministry support was needed because the property is 800 metres off of Highway 97. With the ministry signing off on the project, city council adopted the rezoning bylaw Monday. "It's a great location because it's downtown," said Coun. Brian Quiring."It will bring people downtown." Quiring is confident that the public complaints over the site will cease now that the centre is open. "When people see folks using it, they will realize it's a good location," he said. The lone opponent to the bylaw was Coun. Bob Spiers. "It'a a ridiculous location. There will be a decrease in the number of people who will use the booth," said Spiers.
2 comments:
So it was with some relief among staff and politicians at COV that the news was received that province approved the zoning change that allows the much maligned new tourist booth to open. Everybody is happy! Well.... not everyone. I wonder who will be tagged for the photo op? Now we will see what works best. The collective wisdom of the local citizens almost to a man or the collaboration of our elected officials and the staff at City Hall. "Time will tell" Cheers Shawn Lee a Vernon Taxpayer.
Since when did the Vernon Arena become the "heart of the City"?
My how the spin will now begin to justify this fiasco.
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