Dear Editor:
This letter is written in relation to last week’s front-page article in the Osoyoos Times relating to the current signage bylaws in Osoyoos and their negative affect on promoting local real estate developments.
The former great Prime Minister of Britain Winston Churchill once moaned about the long, dishonorable tradition in politics that sees commerce as a cow to be milked or a dangerous tiger to be shot.
Businesses like property development are the generators of the wealth on which incomes, property taxation and all else depends.
Churchill called property development, “The strong horse that pulls the whole cart.”
No sane community leadership would want businesspeople to think they were against them, especially at a time when confidence is essential for the continued recovery we all expect to be achieved in Osoyoos.
From this perspective, the town councillors in Osoyoos already have a lot to answer for.
For those of us, particularly in the development and investment of real estate in these B.C. resort communities, we have been met with signage bylaws that do little to counter the idea that the town dislikes those businesses.
The same businesses that have carried the spirit of ensuring strong tourism continues, but investment into every part of the cycle of resort destinations like Osoyoos.
The advisors who have led the town into this hole of uncertainty are doubtless telling council that it is just a matter of public relations.
Well, maybe. But once again this is advice from people who very likely have never run a business.
The main thing that is hurting the development business is uncertainty, particularly those of us that invested millions of dollars in Osoyoos.
We did so willingly, but our prospectus did not include the silliness of an inflexible signage bylaw, with a lack of sensible relief afforded to us as builders, but more importantly exposure to the critical and seasonal buyers of vacation properties.
The council is right to tackle the needs of the town, but too often the details were left to others who have often lacked the needed understanding in these situations related to signage.
The ancillary negative effects of the current signage policy is being missed by council.
We developers, employers and supporters of business deserved special consideration in designated areas of the town.
Why should anyone plough money into a new project or buy an existing property when he has no idea what kind of support he will eventually receive?
These are questions that businesses like ours needs answering in a businesslike way, otherwise the horse will not pull the cart.
Michael Schuss
Homeowner and developer
La Mirada Suites
Osoyoos, B.C.
