-RDOS staff criticized for handling of report on development application-

OSOYOOS TIMES-September 10, 2008-

By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times

A planned expansion of Anarchist Mountain's Regal Ridge development received first and second readings from the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) board of directors at a Sept. 4 meeting.
The proposed expansion would add 224 serviced lots to the development's existing 341 lots, most of which are located in the RDOS, for a total of 565 properties.
The new lots would be located at the north end of Anarchist Mountain, with 45 of them measuring less than one hectare.
While Regal Ridge properties vary in size, most are 1.2 hectares.
In (the past) two years we have repeatedly asked that the application be considered as a whole, said Regal Ridge communications officer Joe Cardoso as he addressed the board.
RDOS staff broke the series of zoning and Official Community Plan (OCP) amendments necessary for the proposed expansion into three separate motions and made a recommendation against the proposal, citing concerns about environmental sensitivity in the area.
The development includes 2,745 hectares of land in the RDOS and an additional 214 hectares in the Regional District Kootenay-Boundary.
Approximately 1,200 hectares of Regal Ridge land in the RDOS, some of it in the Agricultural Land Reserve, has been dedicated as conservation land and Cardoso said with its proposed 565 lots, Regal Ridge would have an overall density of approximately one dwelling per every four hectares.
That's 180 times less dense than the recently approved Willow Beach project, he said.
Cardoso also said the development's total proposed density is less than what it could have been prior to 2001, before Regal Ridge developer Adrian Erickson agreed to make compromises with regards to density with the RDOS.
Anarchist mountain resident Mark McKenney also addressed the board, speaking in favour of the proposed expansion.
McKenney, a member of the Area A Advisory Planning Committee, said he had concerns about the RDOS staff reports on the expansion proposal, adding, I find some of the statements quite inaccurate and misleading.
Area C Director Allan Patton questioned the absence of a Phase Development Agreement (PDA) for the expansion, which would ensure Erickson would build planned amenities such as a convenience store and recreation centre as more lots are created.
The establishment of such an agreement was the recommendation of RDOS staff.
I'd like to have some kind of indication that we would be moving forward (with the construction of amenities) as you build, Patton said.
Currently, about 30 homes have been built in the development and not all of the existing 341 lots have been sold.
At this point, to build a commercial zone for 30 lots is not prudent, said RDOS Chief Administrative Officer Bill Newell.
Erickson said the establishment of such an agreement could cause him difficulties with borrowing money.
Put a PDA in there and it's the lenders that are a problem, he told the board.
Erickson said once an adequate number of people have built homes on the mountain, he would proceed with the construction of commercial and recreational properties.
You have my word, he said.
A golf course and an airport are also planned for the development.
Area E Director Tom Chapman said Erickson is somebody's who's gone the extra mile to make sure that things have been done properly.rnHe added that he was sure the developer would continue to demonstrate this commitment with regards to his long-term plan.
Area B Director George Hanson also expressed concern over the RDOS staff report dealing with the area's environmental sensitivity.
I invite anyone to come up to the slope, Erickson said in response, adding that he is developing in areas that will cause minimal stress to the natural environment.
I wish (RDOS staff) had their feet on the ground as much as I do.rnMcKenney said he had toured the Regal Ridge development site along with other committee members earlier this summer, before the committee gave its approval to the proposal at a July 14 meeting.
We took it very seriously, as we did Willow Beach, McKenney said, proceeding to criticize the RDOS board for not taking the committee's recommendation to significantly decrease the number of units in that project into consideration before the proposal was passed last month.
McKenney said if the recommendations of the committee were not going to be taken seriously by the board, he questioned why he was volunteering his time.
RDOS Chair Dan Ashton told McKenney he was there to discuss Regal Ridge and not Willow Beach.
reporter@osoyoostimes.com