Controlled development needed

Editor:rnI firmly believe that the present Town Council and Town Planner have let developers build in Osoyoos with minimal if any contribution to infrastructure (roads, parks, sidewalks, fire hydrants, green space).
Prime examples are the subdivisions of Dividend Ridge and Fairway Hills. There is no park or green space within the subdivision. The only reply the Mayor has given to that comment is well you have a golf course and school ground.
Hopefully in the future as more houses are built there “ a park and green space will be set aside prior to development.
Who was responsible for the development approval of the Casa Del Mila Oro development (the old Becker property) at 5106 Lakeshore Drive? This development does not hopefully reflect what is in the proposed Community Plan.
Yet another example is Cottonwood Drive. The congestion on that road was not addressed and an alternative road was not planned or built prior to development.
Prior to the development of the Desert Springs golf course property (East Bench) an additional roadway must be built to accommodate traffic. Currently Lakeshore Drive from 36th Avenue South to the border “ is just one roadway in and one roadway out. With this proposed development the addition of more traffic (i.e. 400 plus units) would be ludicrous and dangerous. The developer's aerial perspective concerning their proposed development shows that their proposal is to build a 3 storey complex on the water side and a four-storey complex on the golf course property.
At Public Hearings citizens have strongly voiced their great concern regarding the loss of lake access for residents and tourists alike.
The extended Pioneer Walkway, which passes by this proposed development, has been a great addition to Osoyoos. If this development is approved “ this part of the walkway will be forever ruined “ for people walking by will not be able to see the lake “ only the back of condo's and/or hotels.
Think about Stanley Park, White Rock, West Vancouver, Peachland “ are their walkways impeded by condos? We have to think for the future and is our lake not the big drawing card for new residents, tourists and developers?rnInstead of building yet another development, the Walnut Orchard property should be made into a Public Park for the residents of Osoyoos. Currently there are no parks on the East side of Osoyoos Lake. (the Regional Park on East Lakeshore Drive is leased to Brookvale Campground).
Developers should be encouraged to enter into a partnership with the Town of Osoyoos “ prior to their multi-million dollar project being approved.
The Developer, who will reap millions from this complex, should be encouraged to contribute to a public park (the Walnut Orchard).
There is so little public beach access left in Osoyoos, here is an excellent opportunity for the present Mayor and Council to listen and make a sound decision for the future.
Dave Gillies

Editor:rnAs the former Mayor of Osoyoos, I feel it is time to speak up about some of the decisions that are being made in Osoyoos today. I urge all our citizens to exercise their good judgement in opposing the rezoning of parks and recreation and agricultural land (the former Par 3 Golf Course and the old walnut farm) for resort/hotel development. We've given up too much lakeshore already and we have to hang on to the small amount we have left for the sake of the entire community and its future.
A public hearing on this rezoning application will take place Monday, October 3rd (at the inconvenient time of 5:00 p.m.) at the Sonora Community Centre. If you do not agree with this proposal to rezone, come out and make your feelings heard. If you cannot attend the hearing, a petition opposing the rezoning is available to sign at the following Main Street locations: Anderson's Diamond Shop, Boutique de Sonia and Dollar Smart Discount.
Please let us stand firm on this, and send a clear message that parks and recreation land is not for sale!rnCharles E. (Chuck) Emery, Osoyoos

Editor:rnTO: Mayor Slater, Councillors of the Town of Osoyoos, Development Services, Chief Administrative Officer.
SUBJECT: Public Hearing, Mon. Oct. 3/05 at 5 p.m. at the Sonora Community Centre for the Rezoning of the former Desert Springs Golf Course and the walnut orchard across the road from it ” more accurately identified as 4000, 4200, 4217 (and 4351?) Lakeshore Drive.
All these properties are totally unsuitable for rezoning.
The former Desert Springs GC is wet land.
This reality is easily determined when one looks at the aerial photo shown in the Osoyoos Times (August 10/05, page 4), or when one stands on Lakeshore Drive and looks at that property there's water everywhere to be seen.
There's bull rush stands and another pond when you look at the property from 44th Ave. Where this water comes from and where it goes only a hydrogeologist might be able to guess.
It would seem unwise, to the extreme, to allow a developer to try to rejig nature in order to build over 400 housing units on this land.
Has a hydrogeological report been done on this former Desert Springs GC? Such a report should be a minimum requirement and a thorough review of such a report done before any rezoning from Parks and Recreation to CD4 is even considered.
What legal liability might burden the Town of Osoyoos if housing units were to be built on this former Desert Springs property when walls, floors and ceilings begin to shift because of the relentless flow of underground streams making the ground unstable?
Would our property tax dollars have to go to shoring up these deteriorating structures? Or, worse yet, to fight law suits because the Town had seen fit to grant the rezoning change to CD4? And, the building permit for building this development?rnWe would not want to have to absorb such costs as North Vancouver is now facing because of the mudslide and death that occurred there this past January.
Housing structures depend on solid footings. This sandy soil, made unstable by all these underground streams is not the type of land on which 400+ units should be built.
The word Springs is in the name Desert Springs Golf Course for very good reason!rnAs to the walnut orchard where the Palcor developers are hoping to build a three-storey hotel - this land is also unsuitable for this purpose.
First and foremost, no more high developments should be constructed along or near Osoyoos Lake shoreline.
Surely we have learned our lesson when we view the massive block of structures that choke the Cottonwood Drive area.
Even if one were to build some housing units on this walnut orchard property, would its elevation meet the required 921 feet above sea level necessary to protect it against future floods which will come again, sometime? Or would even more fill need to be added to achieve this 921 feet above sea level, thus adding to the already towering height of such a building?rnAdding fill to both the walnut orchard and the former golf course in order to gain this 921 foot elevation would leave Lakeshore Drive rather like a channel between the two properties!rnA 400+ housing unit development such as this one that Palcor is proposing on the former Desert Springs GC and the walnut orchard would add an incredible amount of traffic to this already overstressed, smallish street.
It is hard to reconcile where the value lies in receiving more property tax dollars for such properties, and, the consequential costs that are involved in upgrading the infrastructure that must be done to support such development.
Gwen Monteith, Osoyoos


Editor:rnPeople of the Town of Osoyoos and the outer areas:rnThere is a Zoning Bylaw change for Lakeshore Drive. This is to put in three large developments with two hotels and 50 units per gross hectare on 17.5 acres.
There are a number of concerns;rn1. Traffic congestionrn2. Safety for pedestriansrn3. Loss of potential public parksrn4 Loss of view of lakernPeople, consider making a written intervention by Wednesday, September 28 by 4 p.m. at the Town Hall, for Council Meeting October 3, Monday 7:30 p.m. Also, sign up for your verbal comments at the Public Hearing at the Sonora Centre, October 3, Monday 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Please attend your Public Hearing October 3, 5 - 7 p.m. Sonora Centre & Council Meeting October 3, 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.
A.F. Schultz, Osoyoos