Dear Editor:
I support the Banks Crescent Senior Housing and Care Development for the following reasons:
• Additional long term health care units: Current waiting lists in Summerland senior care facilities are two to seven years. As a consequence, hospital beds are occupied by seniors needing long term care. The Banks Crescent facility will double the community’s capacity by providing approximately 400 new units and provide relief for hospitals.
• More long term health care services: The non-profit Saint Elizabeth Healthcare will offer three levels of on-site aging in place care services to every resident of iCASA, right in their own home.
• Additional new home care services: Saint Elizabeth Healthcare will also make available badly needed home care services to all Summerland seniors who choose to stay in their existing homes.
• More housing for everyone, particularly young families: Seniors won’t be the only ones benefiting. As Summerland seniors move into the new development, their homes will be available to both the retail housing sales and rental markets.
• New jobs: An estimated 200-300 construction jobs and 75-100 permanent jobs.
• Increased Tax Revenue: Over $400,000 per year in new property taxes. This money could be used to refurbish our rec center and pool, and repair our roads.
• $6.1 Million paid by the developer towards off-site District infrastructure improvements: As reported by District Staff to Council, this includes $1.8 million for infrastructure improvements to water, storm water, sewer, and roads; $1.4 million in improvements to Solly Road and $2.9 million in Development Cost Charges that the District may use anywhere it wishes. These improvements will benefit all citizens of Summerland and are only possible if the development proceeds.
• No cost to existing Summerland residents: All on-site project development costs as well as all off-site development and infrastructure upgrades will be funded by the developer.
• Affordable new senior housing: Concerns have been raised about affordability. The development is planned as a privately owned facility like many of the other senior facilities in Summerland. One would expect the developer to understand the market and price the units competitively.
• The Trout Hatchery will continue to thrive: A number of specialized engineering assessments conducted on site concluded that the Hatchery and the proposed senior living facility can co-exist. We do not need to choose between them — we can have both.
Please come to the public hearing on Feb. 5 and let council know that Summerland needs this development. Visit www.summerlandcsi.com for more information about this project.
Angela Sielmann
Summerland