RDCO
Article from Capital News -
Sunday, October 22nd, 2006
CORD
Governance change could orphan
areas
By Dave Preston
When the Westside governance
issue is resolved and either the
City of Kelowna gets bigger or a
new municipality is born, the
regional district will find
itself with several 'orphan'
areas.
Local politicians are looking
ahead at what the regional
district will look like after
the Westside question is
answered and advising residents
of places like Brent Road and
Paradise Valley just outside of
Peachland to think about their
future also.
"Residents should start to think
about it," said Westside
Director Aaron Dinwoodie.
Some community groups have been
proactive in considering
governance in the future, such
as the North Westside community,
which will likely find itself
isolated from the remainder of
the regional district in the
future also, according to
Dinwoodie.
"We have to have some regional
discussions about Paradise
Valley and Brent Road," said
Peachland's Mayor Graham Reid.
"I started calling them
orphans."
"The bigger question is, what
will this regional district look
like after the possible
outcomes," said Dinwoodie.
The makeup of the regional
district will be vastly
different after the Westside
governance debate is finished.
Along with Brent Road and
Paradise Valley, the regional
district will continue to be
responsible for North Westside
and Joe Rich/Ellison.
Brent Road is a small enclave of
properties on the south end of
Peachland while Paradise Valley
stretches several kilometers
past the Hwy. 97C overpass over
Trepanier Road on the west side
of Peachland.
Dinwoodie said one likely
possibility for future
governance of the orphans would
be an electoral area.
"Possibly with local community
commissions for service delivery
as the areas are somewhat
isolated from one another by
geography," he said.
Another possibility for the two
orphans close to Peachland is to
join that town.
"Peachland has a lot to
consider," said Dinwoodie. "It's
time to think about it."
"Clearly these (Brent Road and
Paradise Valley) could carry on
being handled by the regional
district but the question is,
should they come to Peachland,"
said Reid.
"It's a mutual discussion that
needs to take place," said
Dinwoodie. It's also a
discussion that needs to
involved the residents of the
areas that will be orphaned.
"First of all the people there
would have to want to join
Peachland," said Reid, who added
there are other considerations
in play when it comes to taking
on semi-rural areas.
"From a municipality standpoint,
you've got to say, is the
revenue you get going to cover
the cost of you handling it,"
said Reid. "Otherwise you create
an extra burden for the
Peachland taxpayers and why
would you do that?"
For Reid, it all boils down to
whether Peachland would recoup
enough in property taxes to pay
for what the town would have to
shell out in providing services
to Brent Road and Paradise
Valley.
"That's exactly the same issue
the Westside governance
(committee) is saying right
now," said Reid.
"There has to be a contribution
from the government in order to
make it viable."
The only service Peachland
currently provides to either
area is fire protection for
Brent Road. Reid noted the City
of Kelowna has a policy that
states if an area wants
services, the area has to join
the municipality.
"We'll have to consider if
that's the policy we want to
have," said Reid.
Nothing is going to change
overnight and Reid said the
regional district exists and is
perfectly capable of providing
services to the orphans but, at
the same time, it would be a
good idea for residents to start
thinking about how they want to
be governed in the future.
Dinwoodie said now is the time
when residents can chart their
own future.
"We will be doing it, I just
can't say when", said Ken
Arcuri, director of planning
services at the regional
district.
Read the article....
Email from Ken Arcuri (RDCO)
~ Received Wednesday February
1st,
2006
-----
Original Message -----
From: "Ken Arcuri"
<KArcuri@cord.bc.ca>
To: <homeandweb@shaw.ca>; "Iain
Lawrence" <ILawrence@cord.bc.ca>
Cc: "Dan Plamondon"
<danp@cord.bc.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, February 01,
2006 2:58 PM
Subject: Trepanier Planning
Study Proposal
Hello Mr.
Stowell,
I am prepared to bring this
proposal forward to Planning
and Environment Committee on
Feb. 21 for their
consideration as a workplan item
for 2006. The Committee will
consider this matter in
conjunction with other work
assignments and set priorities
for 2006. Thank you for
providing us with a link to your
website.
Regards,
Ken Arcuri
Director of Planning Services,
Regional District of Central
Okanagan,
1450 K.L.O. Road,
Kelowna, B.C.
V1W 3Z4
Telephone: (250) 469-6246
Fax: (250) 762-7011
Email:
karcuri@cord.bc.ca
www.regionaldistrict.com
Received Friday January 27th,
2006
Rather than establishing a
set percentage, it would be
helpful to identify the
total number of private
properties contacted in the
Trepanier area and then
document their responses.
When this has been
completed, we can schedule a
meeting to review the
responses and place on the
agenda of a Planning and
Environment Committee Mtg.
Ken Arcuri
Director of Planning Services,
Regional District of Central
Okanagan,
1450 K.L.O. Road,
Kelowna, B.C.
V1W 3Z4
Telephone: (250) 469-6246
Fax: (250) 762-7011
Email: karcuri@cord.bc.ca
www.regionaldistrict.com
Good afternoon Mr.
Arcuri,
If you take a look you
can see the residents
thoughts and opinions
gathered so far.
We will be doing a
Canada Post mailout to
the residents and will
be posting a large sign
on the property to try
and pique interest in
the study.
Could you please give me
an idea of what
percentage or number of
property owners would
have to support this
study in order for you
to take it to the RDCO
Board?
Thanks,
Cliff Stowell
Letter from Ken Arcuri
~ Received Monday November 14th,
2005
Further to your inquiries and as
noted in the Regional Board minutes
of Sept. 12th, two planning options
were identified for the Trepanier
area. The first planning option
would be to expand the boundaries of
the District of Peachland to include
all of the privately owned lands
within the Trepanier area such that
land use and service delivery
decisions would be made by Peachland
within the context of their Official
Community Plan. This process would
be initiated by Peachland.
The second planning option would be
to include those privately owned
lands in the Trepanier area within
the Westside Official Community Plan
(OCP). This process would be
initiated by the Regional
District. In consultation with the
public, the Regional Board would
consider and establish land use and
servicing policies for the Trepanier
area. The OCP policies may give
direction for a neighborhood plan to
be completed prior to consideration
of individual zoning amendment
applications. For this planning work
to be done in 2006, the Regional
Board would have to include this in
their 2006 Budget. If a large
proportion of property owners in
the Trepanier area expressed an
interest in having this planning
work started in 2006, I would bring
this to the Regional Board for their
consideration.
Ken Arcuri
Director of Planning Services,
Regional District of Central Okanagan,
1450 K.L.O. Road,
Kelowna, B.C.
V1W 3Z4
Telephone: (250)
469-6246
Fax: (250) 762-7011
Email:
karcuri@cord.bc.ca
www.regionaldistrict.com
Letter to RDCO from
Cliff Stowell after RDCO
meeting
RE: Trepanier Valley
Planning Process
Dear Mr. Arcuri:
In the wake of the
September 12th, 2005
RDCO Regular Board
Meeting, I now
kindly ask your
assistance with some
of the questions and
concerns listed
below.
According to RDCO
planning, the
majority of property
owners have
indicated that they
do not support
initiation of a
planning study and
are satisfied with
the existing zoning
and land use bylaws.
This poll was taken
in 1995.
I have contacted a
number of residents
in the area
and have found that
many of the
residents have
changed in the past
ten years. There may
be enough support to
initiate the plan.
-
What type of
"planning study" is
necessary?
-
What percentage of
residents must agree
to the plan?
-
What are the area
boundaries?
-
What happens if the
residents don't
support the planning
study?
-
Could we develop a
"Neighborhood Plan"
that incorporates
our property and any
neighboring
properties that want
to be included?
I look forward to
your reply.
Zoning
Amendment Application
for Lot A, DL 1380,
ODYD, Plan 26590
Except Plans
KAP45900 and
KAP64305
Trepanier Road and
Paradise Valley Dr.
Minutes from
September 12th, 2005
RDCO Regular Board
Meeting:
Zoning Amendment Bylaw
No. 871-105 for Doug
Turner (owner) and Cliff
Stowell (agent) to amend
the zoning from RU2
Rural 2 to RU6 Small
Holdings located
adjacent to Paradise
Valley Road. (Z05/06)
Westside Electoral Area
(Electoral Areas and
the Peachland Fringe
Area)
Staff reviewed the
application noting that
the property is not
located within the
boundaries of an
Official Community Plan
and the Regional
District’s policy does
not support further
development in the area
without completion of an
additional planning
study.
The Board questioned
what type of planning
process is planned for
the area. Staff noted
that a comprehensive
review of the interests
of property owners
affected would be
required. The options
for review include
amending the Westside
Community Plan or
expanding boundaries of
the District of
Peachland. It was noted
that the community has,
to date, not requested
any changes and that the
issue is not on the
Planning Departments
business plan. If the
Board wished to proceed
with a review it could
be looked at in the next
12-18 months.
Letter sent
prior to RDCO Meeting
April 25th,
2005
Regional District of Central
Okanagan
Planning and Environment
Committee
Attention: Ken Arcuri –
Director of Planning
Dear Mr. Arcuri:
RE: Lot A Plan 26590 Except
Plans KAP45900 and KAP64305,
District Lot 1380, O.D.Y.D
4550 Trepanier Road, Peachland,
B.C.
At this time we submit for your
consideration and support a
proposal to rezone the above
noted Trepanier property from
RU2 (4 hectares) to RU6 (2
hectare) parcels.
All of the improved properties
bordering the subject property
are RU6, RU3 and RU2 with lot
sizes ranging from
1 hectare to 4 hectare (RU1
property to the south is
dissected by the Coquihalla
Highway and is undeveloped).
The subject property was granted
preliminary approval for
subdivision into 7 lots on the
26th of January,
2005. Completion of the 7 lot
subdivision is expected by the
end of April, 2005.
Please note the following points
in support of our rezoning
application:
-
Increased Tax Base with no
increase in density. The
existing RU2 zoning (4 HA)
allows for two residences
per lot. The RU6 zoning (2
HA) allows for 1 residence
per lot.
-
Existing RU2 zoning allows
intensive
agriculture uses including
cattle, hog and poultry
operations, commercial
kennels, sawmills and
shakemills.
Discussions with neighbors
have raised concerns
regarding the RU2 “intensive
agriculture” uses,
particularly with regards to
the environmental impact to
the water supply and air
quality within the Trepanier
area. The proposed RU6
zoning does not allow
“intensive agriculture”
uses.
-
Lance Valcourt from the
Interior Health Authority
has indicated the septic
test results and observation
holes across the subject
property support smaller
parcel development, and
Pacific Hydrology
Consultants have stated that
the local hydrogeologic
condition is suitable, on a
long term basis, for septic
disposal on parcels less
than 2 hectares.
-
The Wildland Interface
Assessment performed by
Carter Consulting, places
the subject property in the
low fire hazard rating
class.
-
Completion of the Trepanier
/ Connector On-Off ramp
provides direct access to
the area and has reduced
traffic volume on the
section of Trepanier Road
through Peachland.
-
All proposed lots exceed
minimum frontage
requirements.
It’s been over 10 years since
the RDCO recommended that there
be no new development within the
Trepanier area until
a Rural Land Use Bylaw or
Official Community Plan is
adopted. The RDCO does not
appear to be any closer today
towards the adoption of an OCP,
than it was over 10 years ago.
The current property owner holds
several water licences providing
for irrigation of 30 acre/feet
per year from Trepanier Creek
and the storage of 30 acre /
feet per year on Lacoma Creek.
Once the 7 lots are sold to
individual owners, it becomes
difficult to negotiate on the
use of the water licences,
particularly if the future
landowners develop their
properties for intensive
agriculture uses.
A prominent sign has been posted
on the subject property, for the
past year, clearly showing the
subdivision of the land into
seven, 4-hectare lots. During
that time, we have not received
any opposition to the
subdivision and have had several
residents voice their support.
The unique characteristics
associated with the subject
property support the change from
RU2 to RU6, particularly as the
proposed change brings the
property into conformity with
the interests of the community.
Now is the time for the RDCO to
work with the current owner to
preserve the existing rural
character of the Trepanier Bench
area and to protect the water
supply for future generations.
Should you require any further
information, please do not
hesitate to call me at (250)
767-0122 or by email;
homeandweb@shaw.ca .
Yours truly,
Cliff Stowell
(On behalf of Peachland
Investments Ltd. & Doug Turner)
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Email
correspondence received
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Aaron
Dinwoodie
Received February 16th
Thank-you
for keeping me in the information loop !
Sincerely, Aaron Dinwoodie
Len Novakowski
Received January 06, 2006
Recommend you contact the Regional
District Planning Department (Dan
Plamondon - 469 6287) to lay out a
strategy and procedure for what you
and your neighbors want to do. There
is a process which you should follow
to make sure that things move along
in the right way.
Trepanier
Planning Study
Proposal
Hi Mr. Novakowski,
If you'll remember,
several months back
we sought
support from
RDCO for a zoning
amendment in the
Trepanier area.
As you will see we
are gaining
considerable support
for a "Planning
Study".
Please send along
your comments and
thoughts on
incorporating the
area into the
Westside OCP.
Feel free to call me
anytime.
Thanks,
767-0122
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Peachland
NOTE:
The following email was sent to all
Peachland Councillors as well as the
Planning Department. Peachland Councillor
Gord Thorne
called to talk about the area.
Peachland Councillor
Sharon Hallberg's
response
-----
Original Message -----
From: Home and Web
To:
gillam@shaw.ca
Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 3:36 PM
Subject: Trepanier Planning Study
Hello Mr. Neilsen,
I am passing along ongoing
correspondence for your perusal. A quick
visit to our site will provide details.
Regards,
Cliff Stowell
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M a r k K o c h : P e a c h l a n
d P l a n n i n g
Hi Mark,
As mentioned during our phone
conversation yesterday, I would like to
know if the District of Peachland would
consider including the "Trepanier Bench"
area into it's District boundaries. This
is one of the "planning options" for the
area according to Ken Arcuri (Director
of Planning Services) with the Regional
District (see
email below).
The Regional District has identified the
"study area" and provided the boundaries
for the plan
(see
www.homeandweb.com/peachland-property.htm
)
We are proceeding to "poll" the area
residents to see what wishes, concerns
and preferences they may have with
either option.
Time is of the essence as the RDCO has
indicated that they may be prepared to
include this in their 2006 budget
depending on residents timely input and
support.
I look forward to your reply,
Cliff Stowell
250-767-0122
homeandweb@shaw.ca
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Councillor Sharon Hallberg
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sharon Hallberg"
<council@shaw.ca >
To: "Home and Web" <homeandweb@shaw.ca>
Sent: Monday, January 30, 2006 7:46 PM
Subject: Re: Update on Trepanier
Planning Study Proposal
Hi Cliff....
What a fantastic and interesting web
site you have created. Gives me food for
thought, that's for sure.
Sharon Hallberg
|
For
more information on this proposal
Contact Cliff
(250) 767-0190 or email
homeandweb@shaw.ca |