By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times

OSOYOOS TIMES-June 10,2009

Osoyoos town council gave second and third reading to a zoning bylaw amendment that could allow for the parking of vehicles and boat trailers at a property at 6901 Main St. which borders Harbour Key Drive.
The amendment was given first reading on May 19 and if it’s adopted, the Town would enter into a lease agreement with the property’s owners, the Osoyoos Pyramid Corporation Ltd.
The lot is currently zoned highway commercial, a zoning which does not allow for the creation of a parking lot.
The Town is considering dividing the property into two areas if the proposed zoning changes are adopted.
One area would be for vehicle parking and the other for boat trailer parking.
The lot would be accessed from Harbour Key Drive and, according to a Town staff report, existing vegetation will be retained where possible to “shelter activity on the lot” and the Town is planning to fence the property.
The report states that the Town is not considering resurfacing the property at this time.
It is considering installing a security cable system where boat trailer owners could secure their trailers to the cable.
The readings were given to the proposed bylaw amendment despite criticism for the plan from two Osoyoos residents during a June 1 public hearing on the matter.
Ivo Tyl asked council why Osoyoos taxpayers should pay for a service that would benefit tourists who come here a few weekends a year.
Coun. Michael Ryan addressed Tyl’s point when making a motion to go ahead with the readings, saying that resort municipality funding from the province will be used to cover the costs of the lease.
Tyl also said the property should be made into a park and boat trailer parking should not be provided so as to discourage people from using powerboats on Osoyoos Lake.
Larry Gabelman told council he has concerns about access to the lot and wanted to know what the Town had planned for the property in terms of hours of operation and security.
He said that having parking at the lot could increase vehicle traffic on Harbour Key Drive, a residential street, and people living in that area will be faced with noise pollution from traffic and boat motors.
Gabelman also said that the property in question is a green space where quails live and people walk their dogs.
He asked if another property in town such as Desert Park or the lot owned by Petro-Canada at the corner of Main Street and Cottonwood Drive could be used for trailer parking.
Both properties have been considered for such a service by the Town in the past.
Last summer, the Town developed a program where people could have their trailers parked at Desert Park, but the service failed to catch on.
One written submission from Paul Hampaul, who owns a property north of where the parking lot would be located, was in favour of the concept on condition that the entrance to the lot is located on Harbour Key Drive, the area is fenced, there is sufficient lighting for security and noise control guidelines be developed and enforced.
Councillors Margaret Chadsey and C.J. Rhodes mentioned that the trailer parking plan is necessary because boat trailers are often parked in areas that could hurt traffic flow in town or endanger drivers.
Barry Romanko, the Town’s chief administrative officer, said although hours of operation have not been formally set, it is likely the lot would be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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