Dear Editor:
The proposed Landry Crescent long dock along Summerland’s foreshore is a mystery.
Zoning: Previously the north shore of Trout Creek was in the Agricultural Land Reserve. Municipal council only agreed to flip zoning and allow residential development along the foreshore on the conditions of a 15-metre riparian area and an adjacent public walkway.
READ ALSO: Proposed dock for Summerland development longer than municipality allows
Fish: Summerland Council in the mid 1990s created the Trout Creek Roundtable, chaired by Dr. Jurgen Hansen. This group was made up of provincial and federal specialists in fish habitat. This group identified the north shore of Trout Creek as important habitat for kokanee.
Indigenous: A common trait of long-time Trout Creek residents is their numerous collections of arrowheads and other indigenous artifacts. The north shore of Trout Creek probably has the highest concentration of Indigenous artifacts in the entire Okanagan Valley. Zimmerman’s Gulch, adjacent to the site was once one of the few access sites to the upper bench land: hence the name Illahie. One registered burial site suggests this property was a battle site.
Dredging: The north shore of Trout Creek is very shallow, punctuated by illegal dredging. This will happen at this site.
This proposal violates the conditions of the rezoning of the property. This proposal does not protect riparian areas and its adjacent public walkway. And for fish habitat and indigenous history: how was this approved ? It’s a mystery.
David Gregory
Summerland
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