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RDCO records show about 85 properties
that are in Trepanier, and in the
Electoral Area.
This number excludes several large
surveyed parcels that are owned by the
Crown, and smaller parcels held by the
Highways ministry around the
interchange. |
Tussock Moth infesting
Trepanier
by Ron Manz - Power 104 - Story: 48533
Jul 29, 2009 / 1:00 pm
A new threat to the forests in the Trepanier
area west of Glenrosa and north of Peachland has
developed.
This one is not related to fire nor is it the
mountain pine beetle.
A Tussock moth infestation is in full swing eating
up and filling fir trees in the area where it
actually has a history of showing up.
This latest outbreak actually began last summer but
was not detected until this year according to
Forestry entomologist Dr. Lorraine MacLaughlan.
"It usually starts on private land, so unless we go
trespassing and surveying on private land, we don't
find it until somebody calls us or until we see the
defoliation," says MacLaughlan
She says these outbreaks normally last about three
years.
"You will get patches of mortality and obviously the
smaller trees are the first to get killed because
they don't have the reserves. Many of the larger
trees will come back. They look their worst now
because you see all the dried red foliage."
The moth has also been found in the hills above
Kelowna airport, pockets by Vernon, Monty Lake, the
Shuswap and hills from Penticton through to Osoyoos
covering 15,000 to 20,000 hectares.
MacLaughlan says a spray program introducing a
natural virus that kills the moths is being devised
for next spring.
From Jim Edgson, Director of Central Okanagan
West
Recently there has been a lot of
water issue
requirements discussion from residents in
Trepanier. These include potential costs of meeting
those requirements, as well as costs associated with
relatively small water service areas. As was
discussed in our last Trepanier Town Hall meeting in
Peachland, there is a need to bring these concerns
forward to Regional District staff for discussion.
I continue to recommend that various water users
come and talk to RD staff. I recommend that all the
water users in the Trepanier area (including any of
you who have wells) form a group of five to six
individuals representing all the various water
areas/water systems to sit down and compare notes
and requirements. Once this was done, it is
recommended this group approach RD staff so they can
be made fully aware of these concerns and
information. Staff could then discuss these
concerns and information with the group, bring
forward information/technical requirements the RD
already has, and develop a better picture for
everyone to consider.
This is not to say that everything will be solved by
doing this. What is being said is there is a need
for everybody to fully understand what is out there
and to work together with respect to this subject.
I am more than prepared to meet with such a group at
any time in the process to make recommendations
(keeping in mind everybody's schedules!), hear you
concerns, and seek answers. Ultimately though,
there will be a need to work with Chris Radford,
Infrastructure Services Coordinator (250-469-6237)
of the Regional District on this subject, so my
recommendations and advice will point to doing that.
Please do not hesitate to call me at 250-212-7296 or
e-mail me at
jim.edgson@cord.bc.ca . It would be helpful if
you would put in the e-mail subject line "Trepanier
Water" as I plan to set up a file as things move
forward."
Jim Edgson - Regional Director Central Okanagan West
jim.edgson@cord.bc.ca
Ph: 250-212-7296
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Maxwell Road Update
- September 22nd, 2009 from Jim Edgson
 Good
morning! I received a reply from Jeff
Wiseman of the MOTI (I will have to find out
what the "I" part of MOTI is!) and found out
the following: Mr. Pratt is in the process
of developing a building site, and informed
the MOTI that he was willing to dedicate, at
no cost to MOTI, sufficient land to improve
the road alignment as it fronts his
property. The purpose of the surveying is
so the MOTI can determine what sort of
improved alignment MOTI can reasonably
expect so that Mr. Pratt can still build.
The MOTI plans to review proposed alignment
options with Mr. Pratt once surveying and
preliminary design(s) is/are complete to see
if the MOTI can move forward. And the MOTI
was not going to be any mining site.
In other words, as I read it, until such
time as they see what can be done by both
parties, nothing will be done. Further, in
past conversations, Maxwell Road is not
exactly high on the MOTI's priority list.
It must be kept in mind that as long as no
subdivision occurs, and no zoning changes
occur, and as long as any proposed buildings
on Mr. Pratt's land meeting the Zoning
requirements, Mr. Pratt is free to get a
building permit from the RD and build.
It will be interesting to see what comes of
this. If there is an agreement on part of
Mr. Pratt's property being gifted to the
MOTI, this probably will require a
subdivision (the MOTI is the approving
authority for subdivisions, but if a zoning
change is required, the RD gets involved).
In addition, if a home is to be built, there
will have to be a building permit from the
RD. Finally, until the Trepanier OCP
process is very, very well on the way, the
Regional District Board has made it clear
that no zoning changes will happen (the
Board has deferred one Trepanier application
so far, with the understanding that the OCP
process will be officially starting early in
the new year. There is some preliminary
work being done locally in this regard to
hopefully speed things up).
So now we will need to wait and see what
proposals come forward. At some point, the
RD will get involved. In the meantime, all
of us will need to wait and see if anything
is actually agreed to.
Hope this helps! Feel free to contact me if
you have further questions.
Jim Edgson - Regional Director Central
Okanagan West
jim.edgson@cord.bc.ca
Ph: 250-212-7296
________________________________
Subject: Re: Maxwell Road
Good morning, Jeff (I am assuming you will
get this Monday morning September 14)! I
received a phone call from Jerry Guthrie of
4363 Maxwell Road, asked him to forward an
e-mail to me with his concerns, and told him
I would contact you for some clarification.
One of Jerry's neighbours was talking to
some people doing surveying on Maxwell Road
who noted that there may be some future work
by the MoT on Maxwell and that the owner of
the land (Bruce Pratt) parallel with Maxwell
Road would be giving up some land along with
gravel to make improvements to Maxwell
Road. Jerry then contacted the Ministry of
Mines and found Bruce's mine application has
expired.
As you know, I like to get all the facts and
information. So, subject to not being able
to tell me about purchases pending due to
confidentiality, can you please tell me what
is going on in this regard concerning
Maxwell Road, what timeline and (again
subject to confidentialities) what has been
discussed/committed to date? If
confidentiality factors are involved, I
would like to ask you to let me know when
things are closed so I can communicate to my
constituents.
If you can tell me something in general, it
would be appreciated: if the MoT owns a
right of way and needs to move gravel and
use that gravel for the construction of an
altered or improved road insitu/on site
(say, for instance, between Muir Road and La
Casa in the North Westside), even if they
have to mine and process the gravel within
the right of way, and even if the MoT has to
put up a retaining wall (I know - this is
expensive -but this is a "what if"), can the
MoT do this without a mining permit, but
subject to things like environmental
reviews, etc.? I will be tied up most of the
upcoming week, but a return e-mail or phone
call would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Jim Edgson - Regional Director Central
Okanagan West
jim.edgson@cord.bc.ca
Ph: 250-212-7296 |
Q&A - Jim Edgson to Ministry of
Transportation
Thank you for asking for a clarification concerning
the issue of Maxwell Road. As you realize, while
Maxwell Road is the current domain of the Ministry
of Transportation, the Maxwell Road issue is of
concern to me because,
1): People in Trepanier have expressed a concern;
2): I have driven the road several times and
certainly can see that it would be preferable to
improve access and egress from above;
3): There have been many possibilities communicated
to me on how to fix the problem. To this end I had
committed to find out all the facts and information
first from the Ministry of Transportation to be able
to communicate information to the residents of the
Trepanier area concerning Maxwell Road. It must
also be realized that anything communicated at this
time is designed to bring forward to the residents
as factual information in the hopes that a community
driven solution can be initiated and brought forward
through the appropriate Provincial Agencies.
To this end, a meeting was held with Jeff Wiseman
and Chris Keir of the MoT at Trepanier recently.
They were very familiar with the Maxwell Road and
the ancillary issues. We all travelled the "road
over the top" and frankly discussed what MoT would
and would prefer not to do concerning Maxwell Road.
Upon the request of Jeff, I formulated some
questions to which he provided me some very clear
answers:
Question 1:
While the road
"over the top" could be built by the MoT, is it a
priority for the MoT at the present time?
MoT Answer: "Construction of a new road is not being
considered. A new road in this location, roughly
paralleling the hydro transmission line, will
eventually be built through development of the lands
adjacent to that route to service that development."
(I will be prepared to discuss what this means at
the Town Hall)
Question 2:
Is the
improvement of the existing Maxwell Road to a
relatively full road a priority for the MoT at the
present time?
MoT Answer: "Improvement of the existing Maxwell
Road is included in the ministries multi year
rehabilitation plan. When ranked against the other
competing priorities in the district it is a low
priority. The reason for it being a low priority is
because the road has low traffic volumes and the
cost to improve the road is considerable.
Significant property acquisition is required along
with the construction of substantial retaining walls
to increase road width and improve alignment."
Question 3:
If there is some
priority on either or both of these roads, would one
be preferable to the other at the present time?
MoT Answer: "Improvement of the existing Maxwell
Road alignment would be preferable."
Question 4:
The current
Maxwell Road has private property on both sides of
it. If the MoT was offered a partnership with the
owner or owners of the adjacent properties leading
to an improved road base for the existing Maxwell
Road, would a): the MoT consider it; and b): would
this increase the priority level for improvement of
the existing Maxwell Road?
MoT Answer: "The ministry often enters into
partnering agreements with outside parties, only if
a mutually beneficial agreement can be reached. Road
improvement projects are often given higher priority
where road improvement costs can be substantially
reduced through a partnering agreement."
I will be prepared to discuss these questions and
answers at the Town Hall I am planning mid-May. If
you wish to put this out to the people of Trepanier
for them to think about prior the meeting, please do
so. It is constantly my desire to factually look
completely as I can at an issue and discuss it with
the affected residents of Central Okanagan West. I
am looking forward to hearing how people in
Trepanier see things going from here concerning
Maxwell Road.
Jim Edgson - Regional Director Central Okanagan West
jim.edgson@cord.bc.ca
Ph: 250-212-7296
Subject: Maxwell Road
Improvement
View Maxwell Model
Date: Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:52:26 -0700
To: Jim Edgson
jim.edgson@cord.bc.ca ,
Jeff.Wiseman@gov.bc.ca
Hello Jim and Jeff......good evening to you from
Trepanier. We're happy to submit the following proposal
regarding Maxwell Road improvements.
Assuming we can agree on a mutually beneficial design
for improving Maxwell Road, we, Jack Creek Ranch LTD -
Property Owners, Maxwell Road, Peachland:
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Are prepared to work
with the Ministry of Transportation to improve
Maxwell Road and bring it up to specification.
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Are prepared to provide
the necessary road right-of-way on Maxwell Road.
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Are prepared to supply
raw materials needed to construct Maxwell Road.
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Are prepared to agree
that no gravel processing will occur on site.
Looking forward to the
opportunity to participate in a partnering agreement.
Respectfully,
Jack Creek Ranch LTD.
Trepanier residents asked to design and
build dam on Lacoma Lake.......
(
read the letter from Jane Bender Ministry of
Environment)
THE
PEACHLAND VIEW - February 26th, 2009.
IHA pushes for collaboration
with area municipalities
By
Dave Preston
 The
greatest contributions to the improvement of health for
citizens have been made not by the healthcare industry,
but by local governments, and those in charge of
citizens’ health need to start working closer with
municipalities like they did years ago, according to
Interior Health Authority’s medical health officer.
“It is
the encouragement of civic communities, supporting
healthy lifestyles, ensuring safe roads and housing,
good drinking water and proper sanitary services that
has resulted in most of the improvement in health status
that we have enjoyed over the past century,” Dr. Paul
Hasselback said in a presentation to council Tuesday.
Public
health bodies were born from municipal structures and
fostered close relationships between the two, said
Hasselback.
In
every province except
Ontario,
the formation of Regional Health Authorities has severed
the close relationships and new staff, council members
and structures, “….have obliterated the importance of
maintaining the close linkages between local government
and public health units,: said Hasselback.
Interior Health now deals with 10 regional districts, 52
municipal governments, 54 First Nations and 16 school
boards, Hasselback said.
“It
behooves us, in Interior Health, to step forward to work
towards re-building the relationships since we share a
mutual objective of improving the wellbeing of the same
citizens that we serve,” said Hasselback.
IHA
looks after 70 pieces of legislation involving public
health and has recently started working with several
local jurisdictions that are referring various plans to
the health authority, which looks at them from a healthy
living perspective.
Hasselback encouraged council to forge an alliance with
IHA and re-establish the municipality’s role in public
health. He suggested major developments and Official
Community Plan amendments should be referred to the
health authority for input.
IHA
inherited responsibility for nearly half the province’s
drinking water systems but nearly 80 percent of the
systems in need of significant infrastructure
improvements, said Hasselback.
Peachland is commended for its proactive work in
providing water to the Edgewater Pines Mobile Home Park
but the district should also look at improvements for
the Antlers Beach and Hardy Falls’ water systems and
even consider helping the Trepanier Ditch Users, who
fall outside the district boundaries, said Hasselback.
Coun.
Terry Condon said small jurisdictions will find it very
expensive to provide water consistent with Canadian
Drinking Water Standards.
“You
are running a risk here,” Hasselback said of Peachland’s
untreated water. He said municipalities have to
recognize the liability of providing drinking water
given what has happened in places like Walkerton,
Ontario and North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
Hasselback said IHA does not always get referrals from
the Ministry of Mines about gravel pits and Peachland
could certainly forward applications to the health
authority for comment.
Trepanier residents asked to design and build dam on Lacoma Lake
read the letter from Jane Bender
(Ministry of Environment)
Trepanier residents call for end to
land-use restrictions
By Jason Luciw -
Kelowna Capital News
Published: January 27, 2009 10:00 PM
Updated: January 28, 2009 12:34 AM A 14-year old
land-use policy is restrictive, outdated and it’s time
for it to go, according to some residents living just
southwest of West Kelowna’s boundaries.
The land-use policy imposes contracts that limit the
types of uses allowed on a few dozen rural properties
located in Trepanier Valley.
Area resident Rusty Ensign said the policy dates back to
1995. And since then, on and off ramps to the Okanagan
Connector were built, making the area far more
accessible. Therefore, the restrictions imposed no
longer make as much sense, he stated.
Ensign said the time has come for an official community
plan to be created instead, to govern land uses in the
rural neighbourhood, just as an OCP would be used to
regulate growth in other developable areas.
Ensign said he received
a letter two
years ago from a former director of planning at the
Central Okanagan Regional District, who stated an
official community plan would be coming soon. Given all
the land use applications in the area, three in the last
year alone, it’s time the regional district woke up to
the fact an official community plan is needed, said
Ensign.
Ensign is currently attempting to remove the land use
contracts from his three properties in the area. He is
attempting to rezone one lot and change the boundaries
on the other two.
Meanwhile, planner Ron Fralick agreed that Trepanier
Valley needed its own official community plan. It’s one
of three areas in the regional district in need of an
OCP, the planner mentioned. The other two are on the
east side of the lake in the June Springs and Lakeshore
Road South areas, explained Fralick.
The costs of completing the official community plans
will be included in the regional district’s upcoming
budget, according to development services director Dan
Plamondon.
A report on the matter is due to go to the board on
February 23. Then, the budget should be passed by March
31, hopefully setting the stage for the OCP process to
get underway.
Meanwhile, residents are waiting to hear more about what
the regional district will do in the way of providing
fire protection for the Trepanier Valley. ....read
more
“If you don’t get it together and provide some fire
protection, we are thinking of doing it ourselves,” said
a resident in attendance at the meeting.
jluciw@kelownacapnews.com
Highlights of the Regional Board Meeting– October 27,
2008
RV Resort Rezoning Approved
The Regional Board has adopted a rezoning application
bylaw for a proposed
Recreational Vehicle
Resort. The
rezoning will see the C8 Wilderness Resort Commercial
land use designation to permit development of
approximately 120 sites for RV’s along with common areas
and a tourist lodge/clubhouse on a 12-hectare parcel
adjacent to Paradise Valley Drive and the Okanagan
Connector Highway 97-C in the Central Okanagan West
Electoral Area.
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Residents -
FYI - Road Name Confusion
According to
Lynda Lochhead - District Development Technician with MoT
It is
Trepanier Road not Trepanier Bench Road.
Upton Road ends at the Peachland municipal boundary.
It is Paradise Valley Drive not
Paradise Valley Road.
Is it MacKinnon
or McKinnon Road??? |
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