Dear Editor:
I read the Feb. 15 Summerland Review with relish, sharing in the satisfaction of the Banks Crescent decision, but mightily concerned at the enormous cost to us of this ill considered proposal.
So sad that we could not persuade the developer to build his much needed seniors facility in Summerland town.
My estimation of mayor and council would have been enhanced a great deal if real effort had been put in to bringing the project home within the town area.
The statement by Summerland’s chief administrative officer sounds like pure bureaucratise. “Our job is just to process the proposal as written.”
That’s just another version of the dreaded response, it’s not my job. How about a better policy? Go the extra mile, and stop wasting residents’ time and money.
I would caution fellow residents that this might not be over yet.
There is nothing preventing an amended plan from Lark, or any other developer from casting covetous eyes on the Banks Crescent property, the lake view site being always the real attraction for marketing slabs of wealthy-lifestyle homes.
The constant thorn in this situation remains the two votes that did not change, despite the host of adverse risks, compounded by minimal benefits to the town and the businesses here.
It is clear that Mayor Peter Waterman and Coun. Janet Peake both refused to grasp or concede to the clearly expressed concerns that this was not right for a risky, remote from town site.
“Any development at all, for short term financial gain” seemed to be their dedicated mantra.
It should be remembered that Mayor Waterman also used a technicality to try to test and re-influence the rejection vote on the compost facility infliction on Prairie Valley Road.
In both cases these entrenched supporting votes for unsuitable locations seem to be the troubled ethics of people who know the price of everything, but the value of nothing.
As with the proposed Agricultural Land Reserve land swap council, these two candidates should be remembered when election time comes around.
Similarly the good judgement of the other five councillors, who listened, considered the risk/benefit balance, and respected the clear majority of the interested electorate.
Now the Bank of Montreal and the video store are joining the array of empty store fronts. We need an injection of purchasing power right here in town.
That’s your priority, council.
John Morgan
Summerland