Dear Editor:
Re: 13610 Banks Crescent Development (iCasa Resort Condo Development)
I am writing to join the chorus of voices in opposition to this development.
When we moved to the Okanagan four years ago we made a conscious decision to avoid either of Kelowna or Penticton as a place to settle precisely because the nature and character of developments in those locations did not lend themselves to our chosen lifestyle. Summerland fit the bill perfectly.
The small town, rural, agricultural character of the town felt perfect. Big box developments were not prominent. Residential areas were surrounded by orchards and vineyards. Lots of parks and trails were easily accessible to enjoy outdoor physical activities. The single family residential developments were architecturally diverse, were on large lots but still had the feel and security of living in a neighbourhood where people were friendly and interacted freely.
The task force that developed Summerland’s Community Cultural Plan nailed these values perfectly. We were very satisfied and felt secure that council would respect these values when making development decisions. Briefly, these values and principles included, among others:
• Protect and preserve farmland;
• Respect the character of the community, and;
• Maintain the quality of life.
Similar articulations of these values are repeated in the Official Community Plan and are supported by the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
With such extensive community support it seems strange then that Summerland District staff recommend supporting a “big box”, high density condo development smack dab on top of productive farmland in the middle of a single family residential neighbourhood. Are all the reports and recommendations developed on these committees to be just set aside?
The Banks Crescent Development is a huge big box condo development. Overall density is expected to be somewhere along the lines of Vancouver’s West end. The traffic along a quiet residential street that presently experiences around 50 trips per day is forecast to increase by over 1,600 trips per day. This is a significant change and does not respect the existing character of our neighbourhood at all.
We have been referred to as NIMBYs for opposing this development.
Fair enough! I’ll even go one further, big box condo developments of this scale and magnitude has no place anywhere in Summerland. The right place for this scale of development is in the larger centres where adequate infrastructure and support services exist.
I am all for the scale of developments that we have seen so far in this year. I fully support the developments of agri-business, wineries, breweries, light manufacturing and light industries and tourism developments commensurate with the values that Summerlanders have articulated so well and defended so vigorously.
In closing, I sincerely hope that council will make the right decision on the OCP amendment and rezoning proposal for this Banks Crescent condo development and continue to support the values we in Summerland are so passionate about by voting against the rezoning application.
Stuart Connacher
Summerland