Council News.

REGULAR MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
OF THE DISTRICT OF COLDSTREAM
TO BE HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2007
IN THE MUNICIPAL HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
9901 KALAMALKA ROAD, COLDSTREAM, BC
AT 7:00 PM

A G E N D A (see) (click on see)

Council will receive and file the letters from Coldstream residents opposing the change of use of the Spicer Block.

Page 43 e.

Application for Non-Farm Use Within the ALR,

File No. 07-020-ALR (Proposed Park/Sports Field) Lot A, Sections 24 & 25, Twp. 9, ODYD, Plan 2420, Except Plan H14664 (9325 Aberdeen Road)

Listing of letters received from Coldstream residents (see separate binder)

Letter from Ted and Carolyn Osborn, dated November 13, 2007

Recommendation

THAT the following correspondence:

Listing of letters received from Coldstream residents (see separate binder)

Letter from Ted and Carolyn Osborn, dated November 13, 2007 regarding Application for Non-Farm Use Within the ALR (Proposed Park/Sports Field, Lot A, Sections 24 K& 25, Twp. 9, ODYD, Plan 2420, Except Plan H14664 (9325 Aberdeen Road), be received for information.

Note: This subject opens the door for public input on the Aberdeen sports complex under Item 2. PUBLIC OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS COUNCIL (Total Time Allotted: 10 Minutes). Anyone wishing to take advantage of this opportunity should do so!!

Complex Costs Demanded - Richard Rolke, Morning Star Nov 23 2007

Demands continue to grow for the costs for a proposed sports complex in Coldstream.

The Coldstream Ratepayers Association believes firm details figures for the project should be revealed prior to residents voting Dec. 15 on whether an application should be sent to the Agricultural Land Commission asking that the land use be changed to allow for sports facilities.

“Without it, it’s a blank cheque,” said Andy Danyliu, president.

“The people who pay have a right to know how much they will pay for those who play.”

Danyliu says the costs of the complex are directly tied to the referendum because if they are too high, there is no need to purchase the Aberdeen Road site or to build fields.

But Danyliu suspects there is a reason why the information will not been made public by GVSC prior to Dec. 15.

“If they tell us the real figures, people will defeat it,” he said.

But Greater Vernon Services Committee officials deny they are trying to hide anything.

“We honestly don’t have fixed costs because it will depend on timing,” said Gary Corner, GVSC chairman and Coldstream mayor.

A rough estimate from GVSC has been $6 to $7 million, but Corner insists that could change especially if engineering and soil work are done.

“Those can actually impact what we decide to put there,” he said.

“It will also depend on how much money the user groups provide and the project won’t happen overnight.”

Coldstream would contribute funds towards development of a sports complex but so would GVSC’s other participating jurisdictions — Vernon and Areas B and C.

In terms of purchasing the property, money would come from development cost charges (which developers pay into), the land acquisition reserve and funds from the 2005 parks borrowing referendum.

At this time, GVSC is not revealing the price of the Aberdeen Road site if the land deal proceeds.

“Coldstream Ranch (the owner) doesn’t want it disclosed and if the referendum doesn’t pass, we don’t want people with similar land knowing what we are willing to pay,” said Corner about the property negotiations.

Some Truth Revealed - Morning Star Article Nov 23 2007

In the Sunday October 28 Morning Star another possible location for the proposed sports complex was revealed to the public. Mr. Corner himself is quoted as saying that 50 acres of this 78 acre site along Highway 97 is usable. Although he was being negative and offering this information as an excuse for ignoring this site, it is anything but.

You see, the original plan proposed for the Aberdeen Road site occupied 60 acres, however, when Mr. McNiven made his presentation at the Sept. 11 Coldstream Council meeting, he said that the parking would be downsized from 1,000 spaces to 500 and the banquet hall facility dropped, as these items as originally drawn were not necessary. With these two changes made to the plan, it should fit quite nicely onto 50 acres.

This site is only marginal agricultural land, it is not productive, ½ has already been removed from the ALR, and there are no nearby neighbours. Perhaps some of the land that’s not usable for sports fields could even be developed into something for the general public. Wow, something for everyone, with known costs, and it’s not being shoved down anyone’s throat. The sports user groups get the playing fields they want and we preserve the agricultural land and rural lifestyle in Coldstream. Everyone wins; it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Thank God we have private citizens in our community who are willing to spend considerable amounts of their own time and effort to find out about, and then let us all know about other possibilities such as this. Again I challenge Mr. Corner and the other members of the GVSC to let us all know the true facts regarding this sports complex, not just the bits and pieces that suit their desired outcome.

by Denice Berlinski

Sports group's vision.

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!

TURBULENT TRUTHS - by Joyce Gershony, Coldstream

We need to look beyond what is being presented to us at the surface as soccer fields for children and local sports clubs, to the turbulent truths that lie underneath. This proposal has been shrouded in a cape of political doublespeak and secrecy right from the beginning. It sprang into being fully formed, with absolutely no input from the general public like us. The referendum question itself was posed to make it sound as harmless as possible. At a council meeting on October 22, Councillor Bill Firman raised the question of why “gild the lily”. He requested to remove the bracketed section in the referendum question which states: “(this proposal is for change of use, not removal from the Agricultural Land Reserve)”. He challenged council to call it as it is – this land is really being requested to be removed from the ALR. Let’s not fool ourselves as to what this question really means. Let’s not fool ourselves either as to what this mega sports facility really represents - it’s not really about sports fields for children; it’s about something much different than that.

We are all aware of what we are being told at the surface level here – that these 118 acres of prime farm land on Aberdeen Road are being used for soccer fields for children, and green space. It doesn’t take much digging to get at the deeper truths. This prime farm land is being sacrificed for a mega sports tourism facility. Besides two baseball fields, four soccer pitches (two with lights), six slo-pitch/fastball fields, (two with lights) - there’s parking for 1000 vehicles, four dog agility fields, a banquet hall, storage, offices, washrooms, change rooms and bleachers, and most importantly, a fully lit stadium with a track and football field. This mega sports facility being proposed by Coldstream council sounds remarkably similar to Funtastic’s vision, as stated on their website. Yet Funtastic wants to call this a park! On the Funtastic website it states:

“Funtastic is fully behind this proposal and encourages all citizens to VOTE YES on December 15th … The proposed park will still remain within the ALR and will be designated non-farm use…The park will include some sports fields, walking trails and whatever the community at large wishes” (Funtastic website, Nov. 3, 2007, para. 1,2).

We need to ask ourselves: Does this proposal sound like some sports fields, or does it sound like a Funtastic site? Does this sound like what the community at large wishes? Does parking for 1000 vehicles, a banquet hall, storage, offices, washrooms, change rooms, bleachers, and most importantly, a fully lit stadium with a track and football field sound like a park, or concrete and steel? This is not green space! This is not soccer and baseball fields for children! This is an opportunity to bring sports tourism into our midst. As stated on the Funtastic website, their vision is of:

A multi sports facility with permanent facilities (including larger washrooms, concessions, building for officials and organizers, covered grandstands, dugouts, covered stage and clearly laid out parking). The new facility would become the ideal location to host tournaments (including volleyball, football, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, ultimate and slo-pitch) and outdoor events (including music performances, plays and outdoor festivals). (Vision, para. 2)

We need to ask ourselves: Do we want the heart of Coldstream to be utilized as a beer garden band festival? Without the restrictions of the present DND conditions, there could be parties with music resonating up and down this bowl-like valley (Ockert, Coldstreamernews, October 25, 2007). Do we want to welcome this nightmare vision of sports tourism into our vision of rural living at its best? Pity the people who look down on this mega complex, or anyone within our valley. Our quiet rural Coldstream neighborhoods will become something we don’t recognize, or want. By then it will be too late!

Coldstream council has stated:

“No cost estimates are being released on the project, as not to jeopardize the referendum question. The question is not about the cost, but whether Coldstream residents want the project or not” (Morning Star, October 12, 2007).

Scratch a little deeper and we need to ask ourselves: What exactly does council mean by as to not jeopardize the referendum question? To jeopardize, by definition, means “to put in danger". Does this mean that no cost estimates are being released on the project, because they don’t want to endanger their outcome of this referendum question? Cost estimates are essential to the referendum question. Without releasing cost estimates they are jeopardizing the referendum question. There is an obvious inherent bias in that statement. The question has to be about the cost, because that should be one of the major factors in the decision in whether Coldstream residents want the project or not. What informed consumer considers buying a major item without first knowing the cost? Why the secrecy? The majority of Coldstream council has made it obvious that they want this mega sports facility built. Are they ensuring a higher likelihood of their favoured outcome by not releasing proposed costs? Do you think we would be able to stop this momentum if we realize after the vote that the cost is too high? By then it will be too late!

Forty years ago we foolishly wasted water with no thought. Then we watered the sidewalks, the roads, our patios, and ran the sprinkler all day long just to cool off. Fast forward to now – water is a precious resource. Even in Canada, the land of plenty, we have water restrictions. With global warming bringing longer and hotter summers, water restrictions will only tighten. We need to ask: How much water will be wasted to keep this space green for leisure activities, rather than being used for food production? Would these fields be placed on water restrictions like the rest of us? Have we thought as well of the impact of the amount of herbicides and pesticides that will be pumped onto those playing fields to keep them weed and pest free? Those toxic chemicals will end up in Hunter Creek, which originates in this property. Those chemicals will continue down our watershed to Kal Lake – a source of our drinking water. Not to mention the species all along the wetlands that are fed by Hunter Creek that could potentially die out because of this massive interference. By then it will be too late!

It’s important to consider that only about 7 % of all ALR land left in B.C. is Class 1 and 2, and less than 20% of all ALR land in the Okanagan is Class 1 and 2. These 118 acres are rated as very high capability Class 2 land. There have been comments in the paper that this isn’t good land. This land grows only corn for cows. I’ve never seen it grow anything else! The truth is that it can grow a very wide range of crops, including fruits and vegetables, especially because it has a source of irrigation water. Let’s keep in mind as well that there are many small acreages neighboring this prime land in the ALR where the owners have been striving to be good stewards of the land. Following such a drastic change to their quiet rural lifestyle, they may soon be seeking to take their land out of the ALR as well. Will council be able to say no after allowing this prime ALR farm land to be developed? As stated by Don Elzer in the Vernon Courier:

“When land is removed from the ALR using the community need provision, what guarantee is there that future sprawl won’t result? Are we placing future food production needs at risk?” (October 25, 2007).

The surface words – we really have to build this mega sports facility on these 118 acres, and we need to do it fast! The deep truth: This land is as precious a resource as water, not to be wasted. Let’s not have to look back and think about this. By then it will be too late!

Now fast forward forty years. It’s not difficult to imagine that all our prime farm land has been developed, not just here, but everywhere else. The population in our valley, and elsewhere, has expanded exponentially. We can’t afford to buy imported food because the cost is too high, and, even if we could, the quality is low, full of preservatives needed for the long distances it has to travel to get to us. We realize as we look back that prime farm land was a precious resource that we foolishly wasted, and our grown children question us why we didn’t do more to protect it while we could. The time is now! Our prime farm land is a resource that should not be developed for any reason! True park development should be used to improve degraded marginal land. In this case good agricultural land is becoming degraded through the parks development process. We stand at the cusp of a momentous decision. This decision will have repercussions and echoes with far reaching effects. This decision is in the palm of your hand right now!

There are other options for sports fields distributed in Vernon and Coldstream. What happened to the idea of improving and more fully utilizing existing facilities such as the DND, Polson Park, school fields, Marshall Fields, as well as other ideas? What about the idea of buying smaller parcels of marginal, low-productivity or nonproducing ALR land? These options were suggested at the public meeting called by Coldstream council in September. Here they made their first decision not to send forward an application to develop this land. This decision turned out to be only a temporary one, because of pressure to push this mega sports tourism facility forward regardless of the legitimate concerns and strong objections of many Coldstream residents. As a result, no other options were given any opportunity to be explored. There are solutions out there; we just need the time and opportunity to find them. By stopping this proposal we enable all sides to work together with united strength to find a solution, rather than against each other.

We need an opportunity to find a solution that works for everyone!

We need to put a stop to Funtastic festivals, and noise and light pollution in our midst!

We need to put a stop to this injustice against our children’s future!

We need to look below the smoothly worded surface, to the turbulent truths beneath!

We need to vote NO!

When faced with the turbulent truths of the future certainty of higher taxes; the future certainty of noise and light pollution from this stadium in our midst; the future uncertainty of urban sprawl; the future uncertainty of global warming; and the future uncertainty of water and food shortages – the only defensible choice is No. The risk of this complex far outweighs the benefits. As stated by Margaret Mead: A small group of thoughtful people could change the world.

Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. We have power here. Power means simply our capacity to act. We need to take action now so that we can look back and know that we were that small group of thoughtful people that made a difference. What can we each personally do? Get out, and spread the words - Vote no!

Joyce Gershony, Coldstream

What, and Where is Coldstream's Official Community Plan?

In the Morning Star, Nov. 11, Kim Flick, a long range planner with the City of Vernon, states that:

“In August, mayor and council adopted the guiding principles identified by the community, which are: protect and preserve green spaces and sensitive areas;… and protect agricultural land, …These guiding principles, supported and reinforced by input from the community, represent the vision of Vernon’s future, and will guide the development of the different land use options for the OCP”.

On the same date, Richard Rolke wrote an article in the Morning Star about how the construction of a senior care facility on 4.47 acres on Star Road in the North BX was “shot down”. The North Okanagan Regional District directors unanimously voted Wednesday not to send an application to the ALR for an 18 to 20 unit extended care home. NORD staff had recommended that the application from Focus Corporation not be passed on to the ALC for consideration. They state:

“Land in the ALR is not on the table for conversion to other uses, said Rob Smailes, the manager of development services…The proposed care facility was opposed by many nearby residents stating “it would transform the country setting to a more urbanized setting” (Nov. 11).

Smailes added that such a facility would create traffic issues as seniors travel to Vernon.

Has Coldstream Council voiced any concerns about the traffic issues that this proposed mega sports complex will create for Coldstream? Has Coldstream Council voiced any concerns about how this mega sports complex could transform Coldstream’s country setting and “Rural Living At Its Best” to a much more urbanized setting, with all the ensuing problems?

One has to really question where is Coldstream’s Official Community Plan when Coldstream Council so readily is willing to send forward an application to take 118 acres of prime farm land out of the ALR, when the NORD won’t send forward an application for 4.47 acres for a senior’s home! There is a great difference between taking out 118 acres to put a 600 – 1000 car parking lot, stadium, storage, offices, washrooms, change rooms and bleachers, 2 baseball fields, 4 soccer pitchers, 6 slo-pitch/fastball fields, and 4 dog agility fields – with taking out 4.47 acres for a senior’s home. And yet which one was turned down – the senior’s home!

NORD states that land in the ALR is not on the table for conversion to other uses. In Coldstream, during the last OCP process, respondents to a survey on Agricultural Land voted 88% towards wanting to preserve Agricultural Land. Coldstream, which actually states in their OCP that they want to preserve the rural nature and agricultural land base of Coldstream, is willing, even eager, to send forward an application to the ALR to develop 118 acres of prime farm land. In Coldstream, ALR is on the table for conversion to other uses!

We need to ask:

Why is this?
What happened to the OCP of Coldstream?
Who is the main push behind this?
Where is ‘Rural Living At Its Best” heading?
Do we want to go there?

author's name withheld

Agriculture Capability of the Spicer Block

By Denice Berlinksi

Source: Canada Department of Agriculture. Soil Research. “Vernon Sheet (Sheet 82L)” Canada Land Inventory Soil Capability for Agriculture” Ottawa: Surveys and Mapping Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1977. AGRICULTURE CAPABILITY OF THE SPICER BLOCK


Key point: This land has excellent soils, wide growing capabilities, and is large enough for commercial food production.

Class of Land: According to the Canada Land Inventory (CLI) classification of agriculture soil capability, the 118 acres of the Spicer block is Class 2 land.

Classes 1 to 3 are generally described as prime agriculture land (best crop land). Class 2 land is described by the CLI as follows: "The soils are deep and hold moisture well. Limitations are moderate and the soils can be managed and cropped with little difficulty. Under good management, they are moderately high to high in productivity for a fairly wide range of crops." Class 1 has the broadest range with little or no limitations for the production of common agricultural crops and Class 7 has no capability for arable culture or sustained natural grazing. The classification system considers both climate and soil conditions of an area and is based on a range of crops.

Source: Canada Department of Agriculture. Soil Research. “Vernon Sheet (Sheet 82L)” Canada Land Inventory Soil Capability for Agriculture” Ottawa: Surveys and Mapping Branch, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1977.

Climate of the land: This land has greater than 150 frost free days which makes it an excellent area for growing a wide range of crops. Crops which could be produced on this land:

• hay
• corn silage
• apples
• prunes
• strawberries
• cane crops such as raspberries
• cool season vegetables such as peas
• potatoes
• carrots
• cabbages, etc.

As an example of its capabilities, the field can produce 5 to 6 tonnes of hay per acre, or 25 to 28 tonnes of corn silage per acre.

ALR LAND IN THE OKANAGAN: Only 5% of the land in the Okanagan is ALR land. (Agriculture Land Reserve. “Chart 1 Percentage of ALR by Region” March 31, 2007) http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/alr/stats/Perc_ALR_by_Region.htm


PRIME AGRICULTURE LAND IN BC: These statistics are taken from an ALC publication published in 1998 and therefore are on the old side. However, I thought even these older statistics were illustrative of the scarcity of prime agriculture land in this province.

I believe, Mr. Christie may have more recent statistics.

“In British Columbia, all prime agriculture land within the ALR (our best crop land) accounts for only about 1% of the BC land base. “ Prime is referring to classes 1 to 3 according to the Canadian Land Inventory classification (From: Agriculture Land Reserve. “Purpose of Planning for Agriculture” Planning for Agriculture. 1998.) http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/publications/planning/Planning_for_Agriculture/index.htm

Comparison of Agricultural Capability Indications And BC's Land Base Capability Indicator % of BC's Land Base:

• Land in the Agricultural Land Reserve 5.00%

Land Capable of a Range of Crops (BCLI Class 1-3) 2.70%

Prime Agricultural Land (BCLI Class 1-3) 1.10%

Class 1 Agricultural Capability 0.06%

Land Suitability for Tree Fruit Production in the ALR** 0.04%

* Agricultural Land Reserve Statistics, Jan. 1, 1995, Table A-2** Correspondence, OVTFA, Oct. 19, 1995 (Total ALR area in the Okanagan and Similkamen Valleys suitable for tree fruit production = 35,492 hectares.From: Agriculture Land Reserve. “BC Agriculture. Finding Its Place” Planning for Agriculture. 1998.http://www.alc.gov.bc.ca/publications/planning/Planning_for_Agriculture/index.htm

Fact Sheet - We Do Not NEED It!

Posted Wednesday, November 7 2007



The following is a compilation and evaluation of GVSC Parks data by Denice Berlinski and presented at the Town Hall meeting on November 7. We thank her for her due diligence.

The Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation Master Plan include the following (Pages 25 – 27): (http://www.greatervernon.ca/index.php?p=3.01)


The typical high and low range of supply based on other BC communities is:

Softball

Low range of supply 1/7,429 population

High range of supply 1/3,000 population

Our supply 1/2,116 population Very High Supply

Baseball

Low range of supply 1/10,000 population

High range of supply 1/7,429 population

Our supply 1/5,080 population Very High Supply

Sports Fields (soccer)

Low range of supply 1/6,000 population

High range of supply 1/2,811 population

Our supply 1/996 population Very High Supply

The above information is taken directly from Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation Master Plan which was published in 2004. (Relate this to teaching kids they can’t have everything they want. Also must respect and look after things they have before getting new things they want.)


Usage is Overstated in GVSC Master Plan because Fields Supply and Availability are both Understated


When calculating the usage factor for the playing fields in our area they used only 6 hours (9-3) availability for Saturday. This is grossly understated as most are used well into the evening hours on Saturday. These calculations also did not include any availability on Sunday. Neither Lavington Community School nor Lavington Park included in calculations. Facilities in these two locations include 2 ball diamonds and a soccer field.

Supply of Youth Soccer Fields in Coldstream

4 at Creekside Park

2 at Coldstream Elementary School

5 at Kidston Elementary School

1 at Lavington Elementary School

They have capacity for approximately 240 players per use (12 fields X 2 teams @ 10 players). With 1 use per weekday evening and 5 uses on Saturday, they can accommodate 2,400 players per week (240 players per use X 10 uses per week). That is enough for each of the 1,000 Coldstream children to play soccer 2.4 times per week. In fact, 5 year old children play only once per week, and children up to at least 10 play only twice per week (one game and one practice).


Supply of Youth Soccer Fields in Greater Vernon


We have a total of 35 youth soccer fields in the Greater Vernon area according to the Greater Vernon Park and Recreation Master Plan. Using the same factors as above; 2 teams per field, 10 players per team, and 10 uses per week, we have a total capacity for 7,000 youth soccer players per week. This is enough for each of the 2,223 children registered through NOYSA (North Okanagan Youth Soccer Association) to play soccer 3.15 times per week. Please note that this does not include Marshall Field or DND, or the field at Lavington School. In fact, 5 year old children play only once per week, and children up to at least 10 play only twice per week (one game and one practice).


Sports Field Supply in Coldstream


If you count only soccer, slow-pitch, and rugby/football, we have 7 sites hosting 23 sports fields. According to the Parks Master Plan there are 85 of these sports fields in Greater Vernon, therefore Coldstream has 27% of these facilities. According to Stats Can 2006 Census we have 18% of the total population of Greater Vernon. This does not take into account all the other facilities in Coldstream such as:

2 lacrosse/hockey rinks

1 skateboard park

2 beach volleyball courts

as well as several tennis courts

Spicer Block Production Capability: 600 tonnes of hay or 2900 tonnes of corn silage


This property could also produce apples, prunes, strawberries, cane crops such as raspberries, and cool season vegetables such as peas, potatoes, carrots, etc. This land has excellent soils, greater than 150 frost free days, and is large enough for commercial food production.


The majority of the Beef produced by Coldstream Ranch may in fact be sold south of the border, however, that still contributes to our food supply here. It is a matter of each of us doing what we are better suited for and then sharing. I will try to explain this reasoning in a simplified fashion. If we, in Canada, reduced our beef sales to the USA, they would have to increase their own production of beef. In order to produce more of their own beef they would have to produce more hay, corn, and grain to feed the cattle. In order to produce more hay, corn and grain, they would have to decrease production of some other products they are growing on the land needed to grow these crops. In all likelihood they would choose to decrease production of fruit and vegetable crops that they export rather than decrease their own food supply. Therefore there would be less fruits and vegetables available for us. Many these products we simply cannot grow here ourselves because of our climate.





Traffic concerns relate to Marshall Field traffic trouble with only 200 vehicles


Anyone who has ever attended a soccer game at Marshall Field knows the nightmare that it is to get into and out of the parking lot there. Just imagine the congestion with 5 times the volume, not to mention the light at the highway that will stop traffic and add to the problem. Also adding to the problem most people will be coming via the highway and will have to turn left across traffic on Aberdeen Road to enter the site.


This property will not become housing subdivision if Coldstream does not support it being removed from the ALR.


In order to apply to the ALC to change use of or remove land from the ALR the applicant must get support from the local governing body first. If we vote NO to this referendum we effectively let our council know that we do not agree with them supporting any such application to the ALC regarding this land. They could not then, in good faith, support any future applications. The most likely way for this property to become a housing development would be to vote YES in this referendum. If the ALC refuses this application, which they have already said they are likely to do, our council could then in goof faith support future applications to the ALC regarding this property without any further public input.


Boundary for development – OCP?


City of Vernon should be held to account and demand that they secure the Marshall Field site. Other sites are available:

Beside Kin Track

South of landfill - Letter to editor

East of Hillview Golf Course??

May be surplus to current owner but not surplus to Area.


The current owner of the land may be in a position that he has a surplus of land but that does not mean that the Okanagan Valley, or the Province of B.C. or for that matter even Canada have a surplus of productive agricultural land.


ALR land quoted as reason to abandon other potential sites


On an information sheet circulated by the sports users group at the September 11 meeting, the land being in the ALR is listed as a reason to abandon other lower grade, less productive, potential sites however seems of no concern for this site. Why is that?


Concern for Greenhouse emissions created by people driving to/from sports fields


A yellow information sheet circulated by the sports users group at the September 11 meeting, stated concern about the greenhouse emissions produced by Coldstream residents (9,471) driving the families to/from fields outside of Coldstream as a reason to support this proposed sports complex in Coldstream. I fail to see how having the other Vernon area residents (43,102) driving out to Coldstream instead would improve the situation.


Number of Coldstream Children Registered in youth soccer is overstated


If number 1,000 is factual, then 75.47% of the children (age 5-14) in Coldstream are registered in youth soccer, and only 25.27% of the rest of the children (age 5-14) in Greater Vernon are registered in youth soccer. Hard to believe. Using 1,000 kids, 10 age groups (5-14), 10 kids/team, that means there are 10 teams for every age group in Coldstream. This is absolutely not true for either my daughter’s or son’s age groups.


No Resemblance to Polson Park


I honestly think Mr. Corner must have some very serious optical impairment if he can see any more than a fleeting resemblance between Polson Park and the Sports Complex that he is trying to shove down our throats (Corner Field perhaps??). The only resemblance between the two sites is a football field, although the one proposed for Aberdeen Road site is much larger. Polson Park is indeed a park, it has only two organized sporting areas surrounded by beautiful open spaces and amenities for everyone to use and enjoy at any time. The complex proposed for the Aberdeen Road site is a sports complex plain and simple. There are no amenities, nor even any open space for use by the general public, there are only sports fields to satisfy the 4 user groups involved.


Agricultural Potential Lost


Once this site is covered by large permanent buildings, and asphalt it can never be reclaimed for agricultural purposes. Simply leveling it to the extent required for sports fields will remove the topsoil that makes it so productive. The result would be no different than removing it from ALR altogether.


No Walking Paths or Trails


There are no walking paths or hiking trails of any kind in this plan. The notion that these facilities would be incorporated probably stems from the fact that the Gray Canal walking Trail and this Complex were somehow deemed to be connected in some way during discussions. Gray canal is nowhere near Aberdeen Road. It is more than a mile away on the South-facing hillside above Buchannan Road.





What about the other ½???


The total size of the land the GVSC is proposing to purchase is 118 acres. The sports complex plan occupies only 60 acres. What is planned for the other 58 acres? How can we be expected to make an informed decision when we do not have ½ of the information?





At What Cost??


How can anyone be expected to make and intelligent, informed decision when we know absolutely no costs associated with this proposed sports complex?





by Denice Berlinksi

Demographics of Coldstream & Vernon . . . How it Fits In

Demography is simply the study of population and how it changes over time. Its components are birth, death, migration and aging. The renowned Canadian demographer David Foot (author of the best seller Boom, Bust and Echo) claims that demography explains two-thirds of everything. The other one-third might come from misguided political leadership and other unpredictable events.

Coldstream and Vernons’ population distribution mirrors both Canada’s and B.C.’s demography, but with much greater growth in the retirement/senior population. The median age (half of the population younger, and half older ) is 44.3 years for Coldstream and 44.8 years for Vernon. This is what the median population of B.C. is expected to be by the early 2020s (Canada Census 2006). We are an older community and getting older; the median age in the year 2031 is projected to be 47.4 years for Vernon.

Since 1999/2000 there has zero to negative net natural increase in population (more deaths than births in Vernon). All population growth to the year 2031 will be driven by net migration.

The actual age distribution over time reveals the following percentages for Vernon:

Census 2001

Less than 25 years old.... 30%

25 – 44 years ...................26%

55 years and greater .......31%

65 years and greater .......17%

Census 2006

Less than 25 years old... 28.2%

25 – 44 years ..................22.3%

55 years and greater.......33.6%

65 years and greater.......19.9%

Census projection 2031

Less than 25 years old....23%

25 – 44 years..................23%

55 years and greater.......38%

65 years and greater.......26%

Note that the 2031 projection was done without the benefit of the 2006 Census data (ie. used only 2001 data and historical growth rates)

The growth of the “over 55 years group” as a percentage of total population may actually be higher than the 38% projected by 2031 , if the rate of growth between 2001 and 2006 is sustained. The “25 – 44 years” group has already fallen below the 30 year projection, in a mere 5 years.

As for the age group that dominates organized sport and puts the greatest pressure on sport field use, one has to look no further than the BCTF to establish school enrolment projections:

“Full time-equivalent student enrolments have declined steadily since 2001/2002 and are expected to do so until the school-age population in B.C. begins to increase at about 2015. The most recent-published population projections (B.C. Stats, February 2007) indicate that by 2031, the school age population will have returned to 2000/2001 levels, the highest in the almost 40 year period between 1970 and 2007.”

So given the establishment of the adequacy of sport fields in Vernon and Coldstream to present need (see Blog Archive….Some Additional Info from Denice Berlinski), one can easily conclude that these existing fields will be somewhat underutilized for the next decade and will easily satisfy “community need” for the next 30 years, until school populations revive.

Additionally, as the school district continues to be impacted by enrolment shortfalls, and hence revenue shortfalls, some sharing of fields and costs with GVS may prove attractive for the likes of football and track needs as well as gymnasiums etc.

Data Sources:
BCTF Research Report Section IV 2007-50-1 Population and Housing Profile and Projection for the City Of Vernon, 2001-2031: Dec 2006B.C. Stats 2006 Census Profile VernonB.C. Stats 2006 Census Profile Coldstream



Author: Greg Ockert