Main Issues with OCP

I received an e-mail forwarded through a group of Summerland citizens concerned about the future development of the town. Although I read the whole draft of the OCP, I thought it would be great to have a shorter sort of summary of it. The writer of this e-mail (and this letter) was a member of the stakeholder's group, and I found her summary of the main issues helpful:

"I have outlined three main issues with respect to the opinion of the public as found through the questionnaire, the opinion of the stakeholders as expressed through motions and then how these issues are addressed in Draft 2 of the OCP rewrite.

1. The Role of the ALR, Preservation and Exclusion

• Public questionnaire results showed 62% of respondents felt "preserving existing agricultural lands" was either very important or important. Also 72% of respondents felt "preserving the rural flavour of Summerland was either very important or important.
  
• Stakeholder Motion 5.4 moves, "to accept the statement that preserving the agricultural and rural flavour of Summerland is important"; carried unanimously.
  
• Stakeholder Motion 5.5 moves, "to recommend the creation of a town core boundary within which ALR land exclusions could be considered and beyond which, ALR land is preserved." UMA initially defined this boundary based on three criteria, namely Lands within or adjacent to sewer serviced areas; Lands not found in the ALR; and Lands not restricted from development due to topography (Draft 2, pg 27). The UGA(Urban Growth Area) in Draft One was endorsed by the Stakeholders.
  
• OCP Draft 2, prepared under Council's direction, expands the Urban Growth Area of Summerland to include 293 acres of land currently in the ALR. (Draft Two, pg. C-1), plus 148 acres in the Future Growth Area

2. Population Growth and Management

• Public questionnaire comments suggested these important issues that the rewrite should consider, "water supply issues prior to additional development"; "limits to development stressing a need to decrease sprawl and increase intensity"; and "ALR preservation"
  
• Stakeholder Motion 3.3, "to set a maximum 2% per annum compound growth rate over 20 years, which means a population target of 17,000"; carried by 8-4. This growth rate represents approximately 2250 new housing units by 2026. This limit to growth represents about twice as many new homes as were built during the last 20 years.
  
• The UMA planners indicated that there is room for at least 900 new dwelling units on land that is both near or within sewered areas and not on ALR land. This amount would satisfy our need for growth, depending on rate, for close to 10 years. This number doesn't touch on redevelopment, increased intensity, or development outside of sewered areas.
  
• Council felt that the UGA proposed in Draft One did not meet their objectives (Draft Two, pg. 27). Draft 2 expands the need for land to 128 hectares and fulfills that need with ALR land.

3. Priority of Development

• Development of ALR lands within the Urban Growth Area (293 acres, Draft 2 pg C-1) will take precedence over the development of areas outside of the ALR such as North Prairie Valley, Rattlesnake Mountain and Victoria Road South.
  
• The term "Urban Growth Area" means the Downtown Core, Lower Town, Giants Head, Trout Creek, North Prairie Valley East, Cartwright Mountain, the Jersey Lands, and Agricultural Land immediately north of the Downtown. The plan shows approximately 3,000 new homes in the UGA.
  
• "Future Growth Area" means North Prairie Valley West, Rattlesnake Mountain, and the proposed annexed land for a new golf course. The OCP shows approximately 4,300 new homes in the Future Growth Area
  
• 1-1 under heading Growth Management Policies states, "the first priority for growth is the infilling and redevelopment of land within the Urban Growth Area." now including ALR lands (Draft 2, pg 29)
  
• 1-2 of this section further states that "over time rural land uses, such as Rural Residential and Farmland, found within the UGA will be replaced with urban land uses and full municipal utility services. (Draft 2, pg 29)

These issues are far reaching and will drastically change the nature and character of our town. I am not opposed to growth; however, I am opposed to growth that comes at a high price to the agricultural community and the rural flavour of Summerland. It doesn't need to be this way. Please take the time to read the proposed OCP and make your opinion heard!"