Greater Vernon's Outdoor Sport Users Group (GVOSUG) "...unveiled their hopes and dreams for the proposed sports complex on Aberdeen Road..." (Morning Star). Bill Tarr, spokesman for the group, feels that "the debate on this issue overshadowed our view...".
The important words here are “their hopes” and “our view”. While this proposal has a dramatic impact on all of Greater Vernon the only input for this project came from GVOSUG leadership. The rest of us had no idea of what was brewing until a few days before GVSC’s application to change the use of this prime agricultural property in favour of the sports complex came before Coldstream Council.
In a democratic society (which may be an unknown principle in some circles) a major change in plans and cost implications must be available for consideration by all members of the community. This “vision” goes against two publicly approved long term plans both of which were commissioned on behalf of the taxpayers and paid for by same. The first plan is Coldstream’s Official Community Plan and the second is the Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Nobody debates the need for physical activities for young and old. However, healthy living begins with healthy eating and then we can continue with healthy physical activities. Removing huge tracts of prime agricultural land from food production is not an effective path to healthy living. It is also questionable that we need a “big box store” approach to sports. As the group points out “...healthy living starts at an early age with open green space to run and play...”. that requires neighbourhood playgrounds where children can play close to home. Those are the facilities that are in short supply in the area. Middleton Mountain parents came to Coldstream Council in droves demanding those neighbourhood parks. Diverting scarce resources from these parks to mega projects is not the way to encourage children to begin a healthy lifestyle.
Statistics show the fastest growing age demographic is 55+. Seniors, including myself, can easily stay healthy by using existing walking trails. Additionally, more and more walking trails are being developed in the city, in the Electoral Areas and in Coldstream. Throwing in the walking trails is just a red herring as is the mention of children. Let’s face it, the vision for a sports complex came from Funtastic, which started out as a nice, relaxing summer event and now is becoming a commercial eco-tourism feature. In fact, it appears to become the next “Merrit Mountain Music Festival” with all the baggage that event has.
If this change in land use is permitted who knows what “community need” will require an additional chunk of prime agricultural land to be removed from production. Vernon appears to be outpacing its resources. They have a short supply of industrial and commercial land. Can we expect more requests in this direction?
Agriculture is Coldstream’s main industry, agricultural land is its industrial land. Coldstream’s OCP, approved by an overwhelming majority of taxpayers protects these lands. They are not for development!
The important words here are “their hopes” and “our view”. While this proposal has a dramatic impact on all of Greater Vernon the only input for this project came from GVOSUG leadership. The rest of us had no idea of what was brewing until a few days before GVSC’s application to change the use of this prime agricultural property in favour of the sports complex came before Coldstream Council.
In a democratic society (which may be an unknown principle in some circles) a major change in plans and cost implications must be available for consideration by all members of the community. This “vision” goes against two publicly approved long term plans both of which were commissioned on behalf of the taxpayers and paid for by same. The first plan is Coldstream’s Official Community Plan and the second is the Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Nobody debates the need for physical activities for young and old. However, healthy living begins with healthy eating and then we can continue with healthy physical activities. Removing huge tracts of prime agricultural land from food production is not an effective path to healthy living. It is also questionable that we need a “big box store” approach to sports. As the group points out “...healthy living starts at an early age with open green space to run and play...”. that requires neighbourhood playgrounds where children can play close to home. Those are the facilities that are in short supply in the area. Middleton Mountain parents came to Coldstream Council in droves demanding those neighbourhood parks. Diverting scarce resources from these parks to mega projects is not the way to encourage children to begin a healthy lifestyle.
Statistics show the fastest growing age demographic is 55+. Seniors, including myself, can easily stay healthy by using existing walking trails. Additionally, more and more walking trails are being developed in the city, in the Electoral Areas and in Coldstream. Throwing in the walking trails is just a red herring as is the mention of children. Let’s face it, the vision for a sports complex came from Funtastic, which started out as a nice, relaxing summer event and now is becoming a commercial eco-tourism feature. In fact, it appears to become the next “Merrit Mountain Music Festival” with all the baggage that event has.
If this change in land use is permitted who knows what “community need” will require an additional chunk of prime agricultural land to be removed from production. Vernon appears to be outpacing its resources. They have a short supply of industrial and commercial land. Can we expect more requests in this direction?
Agriculture is Coldstream’s main industry, agricultural land is its industrial land. Coldstream’s OCP, approved by an overwhelming majority of taxpayers protects these lands. They are not for development!
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