Opportunity:
1. a combination of circumstances favorable for the purpose.
2. a good chance
We are at a crossroads in Coldstream with the decision about the proposed development of 118 acres of farm land on Aberdeen Road. As we all know, the complex is to include 2 baseball fields, 4 soccer pitches, 6 slo-pitch/fastball fields, parking for 1000 vehicles (‘downsized’ to 570?), 4 dog agility fields, storage, offices, washrooms, change rooms and bleachers, and a fully lit stadium with a track and football field. As it stands, yes, there are opportunities for sports groups within this complex. There are other opportunities as well.
If this is voted in there are opportunities for major noise and light pollution from this mega complex. I pity anyone looking down on it, and I pity anyone living on Middleton Mountain, Coldstream Valley Estates, or anywhere down Aberdeen Road to Kal Lake Road and beyond when beer gardens and other events are in full swing. This will become a main site for a multitude of events, and the festivities that follow. (Build it and they will come!) Jason Gilbert, executive director of Funtastic, was interviewed in the Morning Star on Nov. 7, and I feel a need to respond to a few of his comments. He states that Funtastic has agreed to continue holding its annual music festival at the DND grounds for as long as possible. I wonder how long that will last when this new facility is built! There’s also opportunity for sports tourism, and urban sprawl, in the form of motels, hotels, and convention centers west of Aberdeen Road by the NORD building - that land is not in the ALR.
Mr. Gilbert states that this will be a community park, with people walking and riding their bikes down there. Mr. Gilbert, when was the last time you tried walking or biking down Aberdeen Road as cars come whizzing off Highway 6? Consider walking or biking along this road when the traffic the complex brings in is hurrying to wherever they’re going. I can’t see too many parents sending their children off on bikes to this ‘neighborhood park’! That would be an opportunity for a tragic accident.
Mr. Gilbert also states that “if the GVS doesn’t lease back the remaining land for agricultural use I’m going to be one pissed off guy because it should be agricultural land” (Morning Star, Nov. 7). Well, Mr. Gilbert, I have to say that there are actually quite a few people in Coldstream besides you that are “pissed off” about developing this land, because they agree with you that it should be agricultural land. This is class two farm land, of which only 7% in B.C. is left. I am curious Mr. Gilbert – do you feel any remorse for the 60 acres of prime farm land that is being developed?
There’s also the unknown of what this facility will cost. Mr. Gilbert states that at the Sept. 11 information meeting (I actually understood that it was a decision meeting on this issue called by Coldstream council, not an information meeting, but why play with words?) that the cost for the revised plan was estimated at $8 million. Of course, this is only an estimate, and a developer stated at the same meeting that the costs in reality would be much higher. Not to mention that it doesn’t include the cost of the land. (Costs are really an unknown factor here). But Mr. Gilbert adds “It really fluctuates largely. They can’t just spend money that they don’t have” (Morning Star, Nov. 7). Most of us can’t spend money we don’t have. Unless you’re Coldstream council, and then it’s ok (it appears). For sure we will have higher taxes!
I encourage people to inform themselves fully on both sides of this issue. Check out the Funtastic website at www.funtastic.org. This has a lot of information that will be helpful in your decision. Please visit as well the Coldstreamer site at www.coldstreamernews.blogspot.com. Be sure to check out the archived items.
Everyone will vote according to their needs, desires, worries, opportunities, or conscience. Let’s just make sure that we inform ourselves fully, and know which road we want to travel down before we vote, because we will arrive at a very different Coldstream depending on our choice.
Joyce Gershony (A concerned Coldstream resident)
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