Dear Editor:
On Aug. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Summerland Council Chambers, the Summerland council and staff will be hosting a public hearing to finalize a change to the Official Community Plan to allow for two major developments in Prairie Valley.
In the name of providing housing (only for those who can afford it) council and staff are looking to extend the urban boundary to a section of Prairie Valley Road and a beautifully wooded area on Cartwright Mountain that is currently used recreationally by families who hike, bike and ride horses there.
This new zoning would allow for up to 35 townhouses on Prairie Valley Road directly across from farms, vineyards and orchards.
Originally only four lots were proposed, each landowner looking at two lots per property.
This later changed when one landowner proposed nine-lot single-family strata. Now, a 35-townhouse concept on both properties is proposed.
Sewer is a requirement for developments this large which magically will accompany the road upgrades that will only run the 1.2 kilometres from Cartwright Avenue to Morrow Avenue.
The road improvement will be added as a levy to Summerland property taxes.
Prairie Valley is largely rural/agricultural with barely 35 houses in the whole valley. This concept has leapfrogged (a concern with council a couple of years ago) over properties zoned agricultural and country residential.
This type of development is best suited closer to the town centre as was the original intent by council. Something changed and one must wonder why.
The other major development, referred to as an “Eco-Village” is planned for Cartwright Mountain on land owned by the municipality.
In 2021 the concept for this development was 45 to 65 lots, depending on the concept. In 2022 the concept grew to somewhere between 96 to 152 units.
Currently the proposed project is planned to have 100 plus units with a mix of single family cottages, townhouse and apartments.
What is ecologically sound about destroying a beautiful area that is used recreationally and is home to many bird species and other wildlife by replacing it with concrete and asphalt? I didn’t get an answer when I asked this question at an open house.
The municipality’s own Advisory Planning Commission failed to greenlight either of these development proposals. Such urban sprawl does not fit in this area.
Bending to the wants of developers should not take priority over those who have lived here for many years.
Listen to these people and to your own planning commission.
Dawn Richards
Summerland
