Tom Shields responds to public hearing
Town of Osoyoos Councillor Tom Shields is disturbed by what he saw happen at the public hearing on the proposed waterfront development last Thursday night.
Shields feels that with a $65 million dollar development at stake, things were not handled the right way.
If you want people to develop and invest in your community, we had the dream team there. You could see the respect the people had for them, Shields said.
Then, the whole night kind of dissolved. The PA system wasn't working, and it was not a good night to be putting yourself on display to people who want to invest in a major property in the community.
Shields went on to say that what upsets him is the fact that this [project] has been ongoing for about a year.
Last fall, they started having meetings with Destination Osoyoos, and the mayor.
When it finally got to the planning stage, we really hadn't been briefed and we didn't get to see any pictures until last night.rnShields said council should have been advised of the plans sooner.
It's not rocket science that 12 storeys wasn't going to fly here, he said.
Shields compared the handling of the current development to the earlier development proposed by the Osoyoos Indian Band, which was well-publicized and consequently earned a lot of public support.
We've had ample opportunity to have this in front of both the council and the public, but the secrecy was there.
And to bring it in front of us all for the first time and ask us to make a decision on something of this magnitude is way out of line.
The other thing that concerns me is when you hear the group [DO]that we're funding for some $200,000 being booed, there's a very loud message here.
I was really disappointed that when others identified themselves as a director at DO, there were gasps and groans in the audience.rnShields said that gauging the audience's reaction, he estimated 75-80 per cent opposed and 20-25 per cent were in favour of the project.
I heard people up there vote 'No' but who said they would approve a four-storey limit.rnThe problem here is, that could have been determined a lot earlier in the process and the developers could have saved a lot of money.
Shields wondered if the public reaction would mean the developers would come back with an alternative plan.
Fortunately, somebody else in the audience pointed out that if they don't, someone else will come forward with a plan B or a plan C that will be accepted by a majority.
Shields said the blame rests at home if the developers chose to walk away.
And I think we have to take a look at what's happening at Destination Osoyoos. People audit everything, I think they're doing fine, but the public has said they have to make some changes.rnShields believes the resounding disapproval of DO Chairman Arnie Polischuk's support of the project sent a message to the town.
Shields acknowledged that Osoyoos has become a hot spot for development.
We are arguably the best there is in Canada. People like what we have and they are going to be coming here, but they are saying something now: 'get the condos away from the waterfront.'
I think it's time that we listened. It's time that we start to look at other areas, like the industrial park, where there are bowls and hills, to put some height there. Let's back away from the water's edge.rnShields said he cannot support the proposal as it stands.
I'm recommending that they come back with another plan and let's keep the process going.rnHe also said an examination of DO is in order, because much of the public is no longer buying its vision. Shields affirmed that at the next council meeting he would make a motion that the town not proceed with the proposal.
He recommended that the developer design a plan B and come back to talk with the community.
Don't do things behind closed doors. When you've got something to say, come to the paper, buy a page, print what you have and get some feedback.
And once you have enough feedback, then ship it out to a public hearing and do it right.rn
