Without making a final decision about closing Osoyoos Airport, Town of Osoyoos council did pass a resolution Monday to approve a bureaucratic first step that would allow for the development of commercial and industrial parcels and repurposing of the air strip to industrial lands.
After stating it will take roughly 140 days for the provincial government to process the application, chief administrative officer Barry Romanko provided council with several options relating to the repurposing of airport lands.
Ironically, the decision made by council came only hours after a presentation by members of the Osoyoos Airport Development Society urging council to allow them to prepare a detailed business plan to upgrade and expand the airport in the coming months and years.
After hearing from the committee, Coun. Mike Campol presented a motion asking council to set aside the decision for a later date, but that was rejected by Mayor Sue McKortoff and councillors C. J. Rhodes and Jim King.
Rhodes and former town councillor Michael Ryan originally tabled a motion last year stating that council approved that actions be taken by administration to repurpose airstrip lands into industrial lands.
The motion was released to the public and a press release was completed and an overview of airport repurposing was provided to council on Dec. 15.
“Given the importance and scope of work involved in this project, the administration is asking that current council reaffirm the direction to repurpose the airstrip to industrial lots as directed by the previous council,” said Romanko.
Romanko made it very clear that council’s decision on Monday can be changed or reversed in the future, but approving the motion begins the process with the province necessary to repurpose the airstrip lands should council finalize a decision to close the airport in the next coming weeks and months.
“Council can change its mind at any point in time,” he said.
If council does decide to close Osoyoos Airport, proceeding with the application to the provincial government would allow all of the land in question to be repurposed before the end of 2015, which is a goal established by council and staff, said Romanko.
Coun. Carol Youngberg said that after hearing from the airport development committee earlier in the day, she wanted more time to think about the ramifications of closing Osoyoos Airport and she supported Campol’s motion.
However, Rhodes insisted council should proceed with the application process to the provincial government because he has no doubt the process will take a long time and will involve plenty of bureaucracy.
“To stop today stops any progress, period” relating to airport lands and he’s not prepared to do that right now, said Rhodes.
While the three new members of council might have every right to seek more information about this contentious issue, McKortoff said previous councils have been talking about what to do with the Osoyoos Airport for many years now.
It won’t hurt anyone to proceed with the motion at this time as council hasn’t made any final decision about pending closure of the Osoyoos Airport, she said.
“No matter what we do with the airport, it’s going to take a long, long time,” she said. “That’s why I would like to see this go forward at this time.”
It will only cost $200 to file the application to the provincial government, said Romanko.
Administration will now send a letter of application to the province to amend the Crown grant covenant for airport purposes to enable the development of commercial or industrial jobs.
It will also seek approval of the request by the province after First Nation consultation, appraisal of lands, determining the source and method for possible purchase, seek environmental assessment of the lands and provide a plan to purchase the land.
Current zoning bylaws don’t allow non-airport related industrial uses and that would have to change should council vote to close the airport and use the airstrip for industrial use, said Romanko.
A public hearing would be held before bylaw amendments would proceed.
“It is recommended that these legal processes be used by council to determine public support for the project,” said Romanko. “This is a common practice used by developers that they obtain needed planning amendments prior to purchase of lands.”
A capital investment of $50,000 is being developed for 2015 budget deliberations, but additional funds will be needed to purchase lands from the province, said Romanko.
When the town released the news that it was considering repurposing the airstrip to industrial lands, it didn’t result in a large amount of public reaction, said Romanko.
“With the exception of the newly formed airport society, the public reaction has been positive and, at best, neutral,” said Romanko. “Passing this motion in a public venue will provide the public reassurance that new council is supportive of the motion and will action the administration to carry out the needed tasks. Administration also recommends that the public consultation be included in the legal consultation processes needed to make the needed changes to the official community plan and rezoning.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
