Reader talks about public hearing

Editor:rnI attended the public meeting on June 9th to discuss the latest development proposal for the packinghouse property at the foot of Main Street in Osoyoos.
I was shocked at what is being proposed for the town of Osoyoos. The proponents went to great lengths to try to convince us that they had some intimate connection with Osoyoos.
One told us that he used to drink a little beer here as a young man, another knew where Osoyoos was because his family once lived in Vernon, and a third had actually worked at Silver Star.
Only one of the promoters was honest enough to tell us that he had absolutely no connection to Osoyoos, indeed we might be able to tell by his accent that he wasn't even born in Canada.
To be honest, I could have cared less about the promoters' connection with Osoyoos. What is of far greater importance is the development that they are proposing to build in our town and the impact that it will have on us, the citizens of Osoyoos.
Many speakers addressed the meeting both for and against the proposal. Often it was stated that we don't want Osoyoos to become another Kelowna.
I certainly wouldn't want that to happen either, but it is interesting to note that Kelowna has had the good sense to set aside a considerable amount of lakeshore property for parks, most notably City Park in the centre of the city on the lake. It is also interesting to note that much of the lakeshore property in Penticton is devoted to parks.
It is unfortunate this is not the case in Osoyoos. One of the speakers lamented that it is difficult to find a place on the lake to go for a picnic because most of our lakeshore property is in private hands.
Since there is so little lakeshore property left, particularly none that is so centrally located as the packinghouse property, I would propose that we, the citizens of Osoyoos, follow up on the suggestions made by Gwen Monteith to buy the packinghouse property.
In order for this to happen, we would first of all call upon our current Council to stop inviting developers by entertaining rezoning of the property. Osoyoos has a 4-storey height limit and no one should be allowed to think that that is negotiable. That would in effect drive down the inflated price of the property to its proper assessed value.
Secondly, I propose that we call upon council to find ways to match any funds raised by the public towards the purchase of the property for the purpose of turning that property into a park which we can all be proud of and which all can enjoy.
In order to start the fund to purchase the packinghouse property, my wife and I pledge $10,000 in honor of my mother, the late Elizabeth Ehlers, who truly loved Osoyoos with a passion shared by most of its citizens. If any one else is interested, or if council members would like to discuss this proposal, I encourage you to contact me at 495-6931. I know that once the citizens of Osoyoos and its visitors get behind a local project, we can achieve our goals.
Jan EhlersrnOsoyoos

Editor:rnI would like to take this opportunity to set some facts straight.
Some time ago in February 2005, I filed a Freedom of Information request regarding the payment of town lawyers in the court case against Rattlesnake Canyon.
On this matter, Mayor John Slater stated during a council meeting that he was confident that the town will win the appeal against Rattlesnake Canyon, just like we won an appeal in the case of Town of Osoyoos vs Nobbs.
Despite the Mayor's claims, the Town did not win the case against Nobbs.
Why should we believe him now on the Rattlesnake Canyon issue?
In the Nobbs case: The court finds that: The Defendants are not in breach of section 8.2.1. of the Town of Osoyoos Zoning Bylaw 1085 as they are not using the lot for the purposes of a recreational vehicle.
The taxpayers of Osoyoos lost the Nobbs appeal and we should consider that in dealing with the Rattlesnake Canyon case.
The Town of Osoyoos never had a case to begin with against Rattlesnake Canyon and we should learn a lesson from the Nobbs case and drop the appeal before it costs us even more money.
If the Town appeals, only the lawyers will be the winners and the taxpayers will be the losers.
It is time for council to admit their mistake, pay what is owed and drop the Rattlesnake Canyon appeal.
Sy MureselirnOsoyoosrn