We don’t blame some homeowners on Tucelnuit Lake for their concerns about the duplex complex being proposed on the east side.
That area is primarily single family, and to have a developer come in and propose five duplexes (10 living units) can be a shock, even a threat to your lifestyle.
Many questions arise as to what the duplexes will look like, how much green space will be lost, what the tenants will be like, and what impact the development will have on fish and wildlife habitat.
These are valid concerns, and ones that members of council struggled with in their rezoning decision last week. (The vote was close, 3-2 in favour of the bylaw amendment.)
Like the mayor said, “change is hard,” and trying to reach a balance is just as difficult because you always end up making some people unhappy.
If this proposal succeeds (it has to jump through many hoops yet), it will provide more housing in Oliver and give the average income earner a chance to live on the lake. More families on the lake can’t be seen as a bad thing.
Another concern that has been raised is the proximity to the lake and the impact on the riparian environment. The applicant is following the recommendations of a qualified environmental professional (QEP) in building 15 metres (50 feet) from the lakeshore. The QEP says this will not negatively impact fish habitat. If you can’t trust a QEP, who can you trust?
We should not jump to conclusions since the proposed development may not be approved at the permit stage.
We will have to trust council and the developer to ensure that all concerns are addressed and that the design will conform to the character of the neighbourhood.
And justice for all
Another issue that needs close scrutiny in our community is legal accountability.
If justice doesn’t catch up to the culprits who destroyed Dave Chaplin’s home in Willowbrook, what will? We certainly hope it will be more than karma.
Incarceration should be an immediate sentence for those responsible. A man lost his home and all of his possessions because of a mean-spirited act. To add salt to the wound, Chaplin’s property was reportedly looted of tools and other equipment.
It’s hard to believe that such cold and uncaring people live in our midst.
The dark side truly exists, and we can only hope that justice prevails.
