Dear Editor:
It is indeed unfortunate that the much-needed Wharton Street Development is stalled.
Fortunately it does give the opportunity for staff and council to remedy the basic flaw with the failed project.
Decades ago our forefathers acquired the museum and library land for the citizens of Summerland to enjoy.
The failed plan called for the sale (or trade) of the public land to the developer.
The developer was then obligated to house the library and museum in the new project.
We now have the opportunity to explore the possibility of leasing this public property to a developer over a finite term, instead of an irreversible outright sale of the land.
The developer would still be obligated to house the museum and library in the new facility. Before you dismiss leasing as ludicrous, consider all of the commercial development that is on leased First Nations land in West Kelowna.
It is simply a matter of structuring a leasing arrangement that allows the developer to make a reasonable return on the project.
In fact it may be a more attractive deal, as it would not require the up-front capital investment to purchase our public land by the developer.
Future generations will admire our wisdom in retaining land that will likely have more future value than we can possibly imagine.
John Dorn
Summerland