Dear Editor:
I see we have the results from yet another review of our community planning efforts that again highlight our high cost of building, lack of family development and stagnant growth.
How many more reviews do we need to have that clearly tell us, “Unless we open up some affordable, developable land in our presently serviced areas that we will continue to get the same answer.”
On our present path, in addition to driving away families and further skewing our demographics, we are also continuing to erode our agricultural base.
By that I mean, our mostly small farm units are being converted to country estates by building multi million dollar homes and the balance of the parcel leased out at very low rates to professional farmers.
It’s no wonder the city folks and big growers are so much in favour of our Agricultural Land Reserve system.
Guaranteed privacy for the country squires and cheap rent for the grower.
Win win unless you are a retired land owner trying to live off your farm rental income or a family looking to raise your kids in our community.
It is time we revisited the Urban Growth Area with an open mind, and bring some of this affordable, serviced land in our central core into a better use.
Let’s put our catchy “stop everything” slogans to rest and get on with encouraging normal community growth. Enough of these questionable schemes in our hazard areas and forested wild lands just because they are not affected by the land reserve.
I think it might be time to reactivate our OCP amendment that got so quickly thrown under the bus at the first meeting of our present council.
What do you think?
Don Hudgeon
Summerland