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Ribbons, cards show opposition to development proposal

Visible displays urged as silent protest against proposed seniors’ complex in Summerland
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SILENT PROTEST Virginia Smith, left, and Donna Wahl, shows ribbons and cards, in plastic bags, with messages of opposition against the proposed Banks Crescent development. Some of the nearby neighbours have set up larger lawn signs, also with messages against the development proposal.

Members of Summerlanders for Sensible Development, a citizens’ group opposed to the Banks Crescent development proposal, want the community to show disapproval for the project.

The development is a 380-unit seniors’ complex, to be built on a piece of agricultural land outside of the Agricultural Land Reserve.

Residents have stated their concerns about the effects of the development on the fish hatchery, the risks of slope instability and potential traffic congestion problems.

Donna Wahl, a member of the citizens’ group, has started a silent protest, to accompany a petition.

She is asking people to pick up a Summerlanders for Sensible Development postcard, put it in a sealed plastic bag and tie it to a tree or post in their front yards, using yellow flagging tape.

Earlier, homeowners at some of the homes on Latimer Avenue and other streets near the development had erected larger signs on their yards, but Wahl said fewer than 20 of the larger signs had gone up.

“A lot of people are against this development, not just the 20 that have signs,” she said.

The cards are intended to show the extent of the opposition to the development proposal.

Wahl and others with Summerlanders for Sensible Development have circulated a petition.

So far, she said around 1,500 people have signed to show their opposition.

Wahl said opposition to the proposal comes from all parts of the community, not just from those living near the site.

The paper version of the petition ,with many of the signatures gathered through a door-to-door campaign, has been accepted by municipal council, but an electronic petition, on the Sensible Summerland website, has not been recognized.

Wahl said some of the signatures on the petition are not local.

The most distant are from Australia and Germany. She said those signing, even if they do not live in Summerland, are acquainted with the community and care about the impact of the proposed development.

The postcards and ribbons will be available from members of Summerlanders for Sensible Development.

“This is much more than a Summerland issue,” she said.



John Arendt

About the Author: John Arendt

John Arendt has worked as a journalist for more than 30 years. He has a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Journalism degree from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute.
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