Dear Editor:
With the Bank Street iCasa development Public Hearing fast approaching, I would like to express some of my many concerns about this ill-conceived development.
Much has already been said about the possible effects of construction on the aquifer which supplies water to the trout hatchery.
Lark group states that should there be a breach of the aquifer, construction will immediately stop. However, Kyle Girgan has stated that there is only about a six minute delay before turbid water will reach the hatchery.
What happens when construction resumes? If there is a continual threat to the hatchery will construction be completed?
If construction is halted permanently, Summerland will be left with the equivalent of the hockey dorm fiasco in Penticton.
This development is not affordable for most people and is mainly an over 55 condo development. Therefore it does not meet the recommendations of the Affordable Housing Committee.
Council moved to direct district staff to continue to implement these recommendations at the Jan. 8 council meeting.
Lark originally claimed that assisted and residential care facilities would be built first but changed the order so the condo sales could finance the advanced care facilities.
What will happen if sales do not go as planned? Is there any guarantee Summerland will get more seniors care rooms?
Also the care rooms will be at fair market value, meaning that there will be no government funding to assist low income seniors to pay for these rooms.
Interior Health will not be overseeing the care in these facilities. St. Elizabeth Health Services will be providing care, but there will be no doctor on site. Doctors will be consulted electronically via e-mail or by phone.
Seniors generally have complex health issues and diagnoses made without actually physically seeing and talking to a patient does not seem like sound medical practice.
There are no spare doctors in Summerland to provide health care to the residents of the condos nor those in the care facilities.
Lark Group boasts that St. Elizabeth Health Services will also be available to provide care to members of our entire community. This sounds generous until one realizes that this care will be provided at fair market value.
Again, wonderful if one can afford it but many people needing assistance to remain in their homes also need this care provided on an income based fee structure such as is provide by our public health care system.
Linda Green
Summerland