OASIS DEVELOPMENT INFO SESSION BRINGS UP HEIGHT, TRAFFIC CONCERNS
Posted on 31 August 2010 by admin
OSOYOOS TIMES-September 1, 2010
By Laurena Weninger - Osoyoos Times
“The height’s way too high,” said Osoyoos’s Tina Lussier. “Way, way, way too high.”
Lussier lives on Jubilee Drive – north of Peanut Lake and right next to the site of the proposed Oasis medical-commercial-residential development.
“I don’t mind the development,” Lussier continued, as she browsed the designs of the project, which were set up at a public information meeting held at the Sonora Community Centre on Aug. 25.
“I just don’t like the height.”
Desert Lagoons Holdings is the developer that has applied to the Town to develop the 2.37-hectare property at 9110 and 9120 Main Street.
The development, if approved, would take place in four phases over a 10-year period.
Phase 1 would consist of a five-storey medical-commercial building.
Phase 2 would be an eight-storey residential building; Phase 3 is a six-storey residential building and Phase 4 would be a 10-storey residential building.
In all there would be 237 residential units.
“Where’s the market?” said Robin Stille, who lives in the neighbouring Peanut Lake Condominiums.
She thinks there are already plenty of empty condominium units in Osoyoos and little industry to bring people to town to live in them.
On a personal level, Stille is unhappy with the proposed height of the buildings.
“Have they done a shade study?” she said, wondering out loud if the tall buildings will leave her and other neighbours hidden from the sunlight.
Lussier is also worried about traffic flow in the area.
“All these people are going to be impacted,” she said, pointing at a map showing Jubilee Drive – where she lives – as well as 87th and 89th streets.
But not everyone at the meeting was against the development.
Osoyoos’s Brent Toepfer said he thinks it is a good idea and will bring construction work to town.
“I’m all for it,” he said. “I think it will clean up a nice spot there.”
Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells said he has heard a lot of people speak in favour of the proposal – even those who live in the area where the project would be built.
“I think they’re liking the medical component of it,” he said, adding he hopes it might attract more doctors to the community.
In order for the project to proceed, the developer needs several approvals from council. Those include an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment allowing the land use designation to be changed from high density residential to comprehensive development; a zoning amendment bylaw and density bonus adjustment; a phased development agreement; a development permit and a subdivision application.
On Aug. 4, council gave first reading to the OCP amendment, zoning amendment bylaw and the phased-development agreement bylaw that will, if approved, allow for the project to be built.
In a report from Alain Cunningham, Osoyoos’s planning and development services director, and Steve Shannon, community planner, staff members are expressing their support for the development.
They say it will advance OCP smart growth objectives and growth management goals contained within the South Okanagan Regional Growth Strategy; it works with Town site planning and servicing standards as well as B.C. Ministry of Transportation requirements; it will provide the Town with an amenity value of up to $500,000; it will be self-sustaining with no tax burden on existing residents and it will improve health care for residents.
Staff have said it will also expand employment opportunities and “inject a timely development boost after the recent market slow down.”
A public hearing for the matter will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 7, at the Sonora Community Centre.
reporter@osoyoostimes.com
That sounds like a very ambitious project. I would like to note a few things before the “big go ahead” is given to something of this scope.
I would like to bring to light what has been happening in the Crowsnest Pass, Alberta.
A development company named Bridgecreek was responsible for scarring up a 52 acre property in Blairemore with the idea to make it a destination by building condos, sports arenas, world class hotels, as well as new buisness sector. However, it is not working out the way the developer promised.
Smoke and mirror syndrome hit the area with dreams that it would be put on the map by all this new found money that would be spent in the area thus making a long awaited and needed break for the financially oppressed economy.
The location was dug up about 3 or 4 years ago where it was to be mainly built and is in direct vision of everyone who travels through the area. In short, it is VERY unsightly and driving all new development away.
The Crowsnest area is located in a beautiful part of the world but struggles due to it’s lower economy.
A very large number of investors are on the hook for what appears to be a business of “Interest” to the RCMP.
As a warning to the people of the Osoyoos area:
-Has this developer been thouroghly checked to see if they have the money to build something of this calibre or are they looking to gather as they go?
-Are they Venture Capitalists? If they are I would recommend that they are AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS!
-I suggest you approve only the smallest amount of the project and see how that goes before you sign over the farm.
-Building it does not mean they will come, if they do, then Osoyoos should throw away any ideas of becoming a resort capital.
Sorry seniors, you are community killers.
An economy that relies mainly on low to mid range incomes will not promote new growth from within a community. Only outside interests will invest and then you end up with $25 to $40 per square foot spaces, Is your retail sector prepared for that?
Afterall, outside investors in areas such as yours are in the business of making money, not losing it.
-You already have 2 hospitals within an hour of Osoyoos so how much of an improvement are you expecting in your health care?
-Why are the locations that are former gas stations not being used for this instead? Is it because BIG OIL owns them? More the reason to develop them, and as soon as possible because of what they represent to the area, abandonment and lack of commitment from their present owners.
-Take into consideration what this will do to your skyline, when it’s gone, it’s gone baby!
-It may sound like a great deal because of the promise of huge money, but after it is recieved and spent, is it an absolute that this facility will not become a white Elephant?
Such an exclusive piece of the country that needs to be recognized for what it is to be used up just so investors can make quick cash, or, in a downward economy will they?
I think if I were Osoyoos, I wouldn’t run out and start gambling off these new found riches just yet, do your homework!
Good luck and for goodness sakes be carefull!