Dear Editor:
On Sept. 17, Summerland’s Planning Advisory Commission discussed the proposed Oasis development. The foreshore of this proposed development contains the habitat of the Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel.
The B.C. government has stated this mussel is one of the world’s most endangered animals.
On May 25, 2015, a resolution was adopted by municipal council that “the environmental planner attend a future meeting to provide further information” (about the endangered mussel.) This report has not been made public and strangely was not presented at the Sept. 17 commission meeting.
In addition, the commission members were told that a previous council had cancelled Summerland’s head lease agreement (local control of dock/marina applications.) Wrong. Council did not cancel this agreement. On March 26 2007, a resolution was adopted by municipal council which stated that “council direct staff to negotiate a new head lease.”
Within three weeks, municipal staff did the exact opposite. Staff cancelled the agreement. The B.C. Land Title and Survey office in Kamloops: was contacted: too late, cancelled.
Prior to a public hearing, staff should explain to the public why, unilaterally, the head lease agreement was cancelled. And the environmental planner’s report on the endangered mussel should be released to the public.
David E. Gregory
Summerland
Signature