Perhaps Mr. McIntosh (letter to editor Jan. 21, 2019) should get his facts completely straight before he espouses the ‘unfairness’ or the ‘undemocratic’ approach by staff and council concerning the new proposal for Banks Crescent.
Although the Official Community Plan does target this area for growth, the OCP has had many amendments since it was completed in 2008 because of the continued growth of Summerland.
The previous proposal by Lark Enterprises was defeated not just because “their ambitious proposal to bring significant economic benefit to Summerland after two years of effort was too big and too ambitious” but because of major concerns over the preservation of the Summerland Hatchery water source.
The water protection for the hatchery has not been resolved to date so why would council and staff continue along the previous path? Why not find a resolution to this issue first before considering any development on this property? And why does Mr. McIntosh, horticulturalist by degree and past developmental officer for Summerland, continue to see this area (a bowl) as a good location for ‘medium’ density? In my opinion, an outstanding and wise planner is someone who keeps this principle uppermost in mind: “right development in the right place.”
Mary-Anne MacDonald
Summerland
