Coldstream Referendum – Facts vs. Fiction. 2nd Installment - Press Release to All Media

The Vernon Outdoor Sports Committee has started their telephone canvassing blitz. Unfortunately, right out of the gate there is misinformation being presented. When working with volunteers, there is the potential that some canvassers may not have the true facts, have misinterpreted the facts or embellish information to get a vote.

It is important however to correct false information and ensure the truth is being told. One case in point came from a phone canvasser for the VOSC last night. This is how the conversation went:
Tonight my husband Paul and I (Paul and Louise Christie) received a phone call from a female “YES” campaigner. When I told her she was calling the wrong person, as I was a solid “NO” voter, she politely asked, “May I ask why?”

I of course, said that it’s just wrong to use prime agricultural land like the Spicer block for the purpose of a mega sports complex. Before I could go on any further, she interrupted me and said something to the effect that, I should know that the land has been slated for development for a long time and that it will just go to housing if we don’t put a park there and that the ranch owners have said they are willing to consolidate parcels of the ranch.

At this point I put the speaker phone on and asked her to repeat what she had said. She did so. Then Paul asked her where she had heard that. There was a pause. Then Paul said something to the effect, that he is a member of the Coldstream Advisory Planning Committee and that the members were told that the ranch ownership was not interested in consolidation. Further, he said that if she didn’t know what she had said to be fact, she was being deceitful and shouldn’t be telling people that.

There was dead silence for at least 5 seconds, then she said, “Ok, goodbye."

Paul called Al McNiven immediately and asked him if there was any truth to these allegations. Al said that he had not heard that information.

Rick Dubois, President of Funtastic was also called and asked about this information being given by one of the yes campaign canvassers. He said that his callers should not be spreading erroneous information.

Bill Tarr was also sent an e-mail in this regard but had not returned the e-mail at the time of this mailing.

Jim Garlick, Coldstream Councilor was sent this information and replied,

“The Spicer (land block) is not slated for development without considerable requirements involving consolidation of a large number of other of Coldstream Ranch parcels. The Coldstream Ranch owner has stated that consolidation is not an option for him. It is in writing in the reply-to-purchase information from the owner. Council has been told this and the Advisory Planning Committee has been told this. The parcels in question that were proposed for consolidation are far too valuable as fee simple parcels for this deal to be attractive anymore.”

“Unfortunately this caller did not know this and called Paul Christy who is a Advisory Planning Committee member and has been involved with the ALC his entire career as an agrologist.”

The facts are:

1. A potential deal was being considered at one time to develop a piece of the 118 acre Spicer Block parcel in exchange for the Coldstream Ranch consolidating a number of other key agricultural pieces. The Coldstream Ranch owner as stated above refused this offer and put that in writing. There have been no further discussions with the District of Coldstream in this regard.

2. ALR land that is designated for farm use does not support residential or commercial development.

3. If Coldstream Council and the ALR approve “non farm use” for this land, as is currently being requested by GVS, this land could support residential development and or the mega sports complex development with banquet halls, stadiums, and other facilities to support the sports user groups. Note: that Coldstream Meadows is currently building 160 units on non-farm use land within the ALR.

4. It should also be noted that land that has had layers of sand, gravel or fill added for subsurface paving preparation or leveling cannot be converted back to good farm land.

5. The only way to protect agricultural land and prevent development is to vote NO at the referendum.

It would be interesting to get the Vernon politician's views on this proposed mega sports complex. Since they have hired SmartGrowth BC (check out SmartGrowth BC's views on preserving agricultural land) to do their OCP this puts them in an odd, if not ironic, position to support putting the mega sports complex on some of the best agricultural land in BC.

One of Vernon’s guiding principles identified by the community and adopted by Council last August was: Protect Agricultural Land.

Recently the North Okanagan Regional District unanimously voted no to a request to send an application to the ALC for an 18-20 unit extended care home on 4.47 acres on Star Road. “It’s truly a rural area and we don’t have any designation in our official community plan for that kind of housing,” said Stan Field, BX Silver Star Director (Morning Star).

Perhaps some Coldstream Councilors should consider the same logic as this proposal also goes against the Coldstream Official Community Plan.

For Further information please contact: Terri Jones, Greater Vernon Advocates Committee spokesperson. Home: 545-6405. Cell: 550-0338