Association of Citizens for Summerland

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Public Hearing - Summerland OCP Bylaw

OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN PUBLIC HEARING
7:00pm Tuesday, April 1, 2008
at Centre Stage Theatre
9518 Main St. Summerland

Attend this important public hearing to comment on the document which will direct future growth in Summerland.

Review the January 2008 Draft OCP !!

posted by Amie | Permanent Link

2 Comments:

  • When the new OCP came up for a vote three of the councillors -- Perrino, Roberge, and Hallquest -- voted against it, claiming there was nothing in it that allowed for future growth in Summerland. In response I sent the following letter to 3 of the local papers --

    May 1, 2008

    Dear Editor,

    In reference to Summerland’s new OCP --- I am glad that our Mayor finally agreed with three of our Councillors, Bennest, Finnis and Waterman on something. The publicity in regard to the OCP in the local paper, however, once again stressed the difference of opinion between Council members. This is unfortunate, but this difference is probably found in every Council in Canada.

    The continued promotion of growth by some Councillors, Mayors, provincial and federal leaders is against the consensus of the real world leaders in science and humanities. More intelligent persons perceive that growth is necessary to end poverty. However, growth in our economic system, as it is currently structured, will not end poverty. Growth, even in a community such as Summerland, simply perpetuates poverty by increasing the gap between the rich and the poor. I would like to ask the question of Councillors Perrino, Hallquest and Roberge: "Growth of what? Growth for whom? At what cost? Paid by whom? How much is enough? How much growth is too much"? I don't believe they have the answers to these questions. The more reason to hesitate when they suggest that growth is good for everyone. When growth reduces cultivatable land then it should be looked at with suspicion. I have data at hand that shows the depletion of cropland world wide as well as that in BC. For example, most people are not aware that one of the rice baskets of the world, Thailand, turned 34,000 hectares of agricultural land into golf courses between 1987 and 1992. The United States paves over roughly 170,000 hectares of cropland per year. Is this growth?

    I would like this proffer this quote from Dr. Fodor's book, "Better, not Bigger" (which everyone should read):
    "If a community can prevent itself from being overrun by growth, it has the potential to provide good jobs and adequate housing for everyone. It has the opportunity to provide better government at a lower cost. The non-growing community could have ample parkland and open space, be surrounded by permanently rural lands, have a vital downtown, maintain high-quality schools, and preserve quiet neighbourhoods and safe, pedestrian-friendly streets. What's more, its outlook for the future is bright --- continued livability and high overall quality of life!"

    The day that Councillors Perrino, Hallquest or Roberge understand how growth can be used for ending poverty, rather than being destructively used for obliterating cropland, than perhaps they deserve the privilege of representing the people of Summerland.

    Sincerely,
    Frank Martens

    By Blogger Frank Martens, at 11:10 p.m.  

  • We have a name for unlimited growth.
    It's called cancer.

    By Blogger Unknown, at 3:58 p.m.  

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