Amphitheatre curtain closes.

Kate Bouey 

Jun 1, 2016 / 3:01 pm 

Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster appears to have single-handedly stopped a proposed amphitheatre project from proceeding at Okanagan College's Vernon campus.

"MLA Foster nixes amphitheatre proposal at Okanagan College," stated a headline on a Liberal caucus press release.

“It simply had no community support whatsoever,” Foster said. “I didn't get a single email or phone call in support of it.”

Plans for an amphitheatre, for mainly classical music productions, were unveiled last December by the Okanagan Summer Festival Society.

However, neighbours near the college were vehemently opposed, listing a string of concerns focused on noise, parking and traffic congestion in the neighbouring residential area in Coldstream.

“I had a petition with over 800 names on it (opposed to the project) and the majority were from the area affected,” said Foster, adding that Coldstream council had also expressed some opposition.

As owner of the land in question, the provincial government has final say on development matters.

“At the end of the day, I spoke with the Minister of Advanced Education (Andrew Wilkinson) and because it's in my constituency he left me to make the decision.”

The MLA said he had a number of consultations with college officials over the last three weeks as well.

“I feel badly,” admitted Foster. “I'm not opposed to having new venues here, look at how successful the Performing Arts Centre is.

“It’s a good idea – potentially very good for the community – but it’s the wrong location.

“I didn't want (the society) to put a whole lot more energy and money into it and then say no.”

“If the province is saying they don't support putting the amphitheatre in this location, I would say this pretty definitive,” said a resigned Diane Bond, festival society spokesperson.

“There's an election that's less than a year from now so I understand that at some level this was inevitable,” Bond said. “Do I think it's a wise decision, of course not.”

She called the amphitheatre's design “site specific” and not designed to be moved to a flat piece of land.

Meanwhile the group calling itself the Concerned Neighbours of Okanagan College has expressed relief at the news.

“Yes, we are happy, exhausted and relieved that the amphitheatre project has been shut down,” said Joan Rowan, spokesperson for the group.

“I got a call from Eric Foster this afternoon...He said that he has the final word. Without local support, Mr. Foster did not feel he could support the project.”

We have worked hard to get our concerns out there and it has paid off,” said Rowan.

See also: http://ericfostermla.bc.ca/newsreleases/mla-foster-nixes-amphitheatre-proposal-at-okanagan-college/

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