A petition signed by people opposed to the Banks Crescent development has more than 1,000 signatures.
Work on the petition was started in December, after the seniors housing facility proposal was made public. Names are still being added.
During some of the coldest days of the winter, volunteers canvassed homes in Summerland to get signatures on the petition.
An online petition is also available.
Aart Dronkers, one of the people who started the petition, said the response has been impressive.
“This has grown into such an incredible piece of work,” he said.
While some signatures in the online petition have come from as far away as New York, Dronkers said 90 per cent are from Summerlanders and most of the rest are from people who live nearby.
He said the development proposal affects people outside the community because of the potential effects on the fish hatchery.
He and others have raised concerns about the risks to the hatchery, which stocks fish in many lakes in the southern interior of the province.
He added that people living near the proposed development and others in the community are frustrated with the proposed development.
In January, the municipality held an open house, followed by a public question and answer session about the development.
“We did not get any answers to our questions,” Dronkers said.
The complete petition will be presented to council later.
While members of council are not bound by petition results, Dronkers hopes the number of signatures will send a message.
“I think it could still carry weight,” he said. “I hope they start listening to us.”
The development proposal is still before council. It passed second reading on Jan. 24. Before it can be adopted, a public hearing must be held. The date of this public hearing has not yet been determined.
