-Public hearing for Scheffler application likely in October-

OSOYOOS TIMES-September 24, 2008-

By Chad IngramrnOsoyoos Times

At their Sept. 18 meeting, the rural directors of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) gave first and second readings to a subdivision proposal from an Anarchist Mountain resident who had a previous subdivision application denied by the board earlier this year.
The board refused third reading of Eike Scheffler's proposal to subdivide a little more than three hectares of his 7.3-hectare property at a March 20 meeting.
Scheffler's new proposal is to subdivide 2.63 hectares of that same property and includes a plan for a second access road from Hwy. 3 “ the lack of which was a grievance for many directors in Scheffler's last application.
Scheffler's new application was approved by the RDOS Area A Advisory Planning Committee in July. While one home currently exists on his property, Scheffler's intention is for that home to become part of the 2.63-hectare lot and for another residence to be built on the remaining larger property.
Area C Director Allan Patton was the only director to vote against the readings, adding that the proposal seemed to be inconsistent with the RDOS policy of maintaining Large Holdings lots on Anarchist Mountain.
It's obviously smaller than what's in the area, Patton said.
RDOS planning staff also recommended against the proposal, noting that the establishment of Small Holdings (fewer than four hectares) lots in the area could erode the integrity of the Large Holdings designation in which the subject property is located.
However, in 2006, the RDOS granted a Small Holdings subdivision to Anarchist Mountain residents Eric and Buryl Goodman and many of the lots in the mountain's Regal Ridge development measure 1.2 hectares.
RDOS staff also cited reasons of environmental sensitivity in recommending against Scheffler's application and a covenant to protect Haynes Creek, which runs through Scheffler's property, has been attached to the proposal.
When asked to then rationalize why RDOS staff had recommended in favour of the Willow Beach Resort “ which will place 1,088 units on a floodplain at the north end of Osoyoos Lake “ RDOS Development Services Manager Susanne Theurer said staff had made that recommendation because the majority of people who spoke at the July public hearing on the resort had spoken in favour of it.
Submitting a development application to the RDOS costs $1,000, which is non-refundable after an application reaches the public hearing stage.
When Scheffler's last application was denied in March, Area E Director Tom Chapman had recommended that if Scheffler was to apply again, this fee should be waived.
There was no discussion of a fee waiver at last week's meeting and while Scheffler had said previously he planned to apply for one, Pendergraft said no such application had been received by the board.
Scheffler, who was out of the country last week, was unavailable for comment.
Pendergraft said a public hearing on the new Scheffler application should take place at the end of October.
reporter@osoyoostimes.com