Editor:rnAs we watch the Villa development on 89th Street grow we can't help but feel that it doesn't fit into the neighbourhood. We were told at the public hearings that the building would be nine meters high.
With the elevation of the parking lot in the rear the building is now closer to 12 meters high. While this is all technically legal with the town's by-laws it is much higher than we expected. Developers seem to have a way of using the by-laws to their advantage.
Everyone we have talked to feels that this building has a negative impact on the area.
Back in 1997 the Town Council zoned the property C7 Special Commercial with a low density clause added to it that was to protect the neighbourhood from exactly what is happening today.
The Town Council now has changed the zoning and deleted the density clause in order to accommodate the developer. There seemed to be no regard for the impact it would have on the area. It seems all they care about is how many dollars worth of development they can encourage in the town. They seem to be constantly making amendments to the Osoyoos Community Plan without looking at the overall impact these developments have on the town.
We thought there was going to be a revision of the OCP soon.
Shouldn't they wait until this is done before continuing to allow further major development to occur?rnWhile we agree the town needs to continue to grow and changes are inevitable, the Town Council should consider the impact this growth has on long time residents as well as the new people arriving in town.
Mayor John Slater was quoted in last week's paper as saying, We may have reached a saturation point with multiple family dwellings. We need more single family dwellings in Osoyoos.
We couldn't agree more. The people buying the condos and apartments are for the most part not going to be permanent residents. A lot of them will be trying to rent out their units for part of the year to other tourists. What impact does this have on the motel and restaurant businesses in Osoyoos?rnWe have lived in Osoyoos for 35 years and have seen a lot of changes. However, the changes that have been happening in the last five years have not always helped keep Osoyoos the kind of town we believe most of the residents want. At the rate we are going there will be a new development coming to your neighbourhood soon.
Wayne and Janet Marcottern7 Yucca PlacernOsoyoos

Editor:rnIn my recent letter in your newspaper I charged Town Administrator E. Lemke with needlessly delaying the flow of information from the Town Office. As outlined in this copy of a letter sent to her Jan. 28, nothing as improved:rnDear Ms. Lemke:rnOn the receipt on January 21 of your two letters dated 14th and 19, I am further convinced that you are resorting to cheap excuses to deny me information I am rightfully entitled to.
Jan. 14 letter: My request does not need the waste of taxpayers money because it does not require FOI intervention. I am not seeking any documents. All I want is your cooperation to give me the name and address of the person at the office of Petro Canada that you were dealing with in the beautification program for their two properties in Osoyoos. Its so simple.
Jan. 19 letter: A professional person would not write a silly letter like this. Again, it is deliberate and unwarranted stalling to prevent flow of information. As I explained to you in a letter dated January 5th, I was in the Town Office and explained to the front desk staff (nice people) that I would like a copy of the annual report of Destination Osoyoos recently presented to a meeting of Council. They fully understood what I requested. While I was waiting I talked to other staff. When I returned to the counter I did not get a copy but an FOI form which I signed hoping it would bring results.
Your letter asking what DO stood for, and which annual report I wanted is so ridiculous that it undermines my opinion of your professional responsibility. Your staff knew what DO meant and which report I asked for. Why were they prevented from simply handing the document to me?rnI challenge you to state that these two inquiries could not be dealt with over the counter rather than the costly time consuming FOI route you continue to demand.
Stan Stodola, Osoyoos

Editor:rnThe Liberal government in Canada will now have to prove that they have the political guts to practice what they preach. With the Supreme Court decision to return the question on same sex marriages to be settled by parliament, this issue is now in the Liberal ball park.
The question now is whether the Liberal government will allow all MPs in the house to have a free vote on this issue. The Conservatives have already agreed to this. The NDP will not because this process would be too democratic for the New Democratic Party.
During the campaign Martin also promised to eliminate the democratic deficit which called for the freeing of MPs to vote as they pleased and not always along party lines, thus recognizing the importance of all parliamentarians and their rightful role in policy making. He stressed facilitating easier initiation of legislation by individual MPs from all parties. He promised reforming the process of government appointments and giving more of a role for parliamentary committees.
Martin further promised to eliminate the democratic deficit which he explained as the gap that exists between voters and their government.
We hope that these high principles will be respected when the issue of same sex marriage comes up for debate in the House, and that the Liberals will do what they promised. If all MPs are to have a free vote, Martin would be dishonest if he excludes his cabinet members as he has so far indicated. Polls show the majority of Canadians oppose same sex marriages on the grounds that marriage is and always has been the union between a man and a woman who fit together emotionally, physically, spiritually and morally. For the Liberals to tamper with this institution will bring even more shame to our country than it already has.
Mr. Martin should benefit from what has happened in the recent U.S. election and not make the same mistakes John Kerry did. By ignoring the large but usually silent majority who respect human moral values, and he lost the election. The mood of Canadians is now the same, and growing.
We urge Martin to realize what people want. They desire and deserve an honest free vote so that all MPs can vote their conscience rather than the political views of Martin.
Len AlbanesernOsoyoos

Editor:rnThe list of the early bird draw winners of the 2004/2005 Knights of Columbus Charity Appeal Campaign is out but there are no Osoyoos winners. At least, not yet.
As you already know the Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men's organization. Our founder, Father Michael McGivney, started the Knights of Columbus to support the widows and orphans of his parish. In those days and in the mines of northeastern United States, the life expectancy of a man was much shorter than it is today.
We continue Father McGivney's work by raising money for the common good. The funds raised by the Charity Appeal are put to use by both the provincial (State) council and by the local councils.
In Osoyoos, Charity Appeal funds regularly support high school bursaries, Osoyoos Royalty candidates and St. Anne's Parish.
In recent years past, money has been donated to the Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society and RCMP Victims Services.
Philip VernhamrnGrand KnightrnOsoyoos

Editor:rnI noticed in your paper a very short and brief thank you to Dan Lyver, Bylaw Enforcement Officer. This could easily have been missed by many of your readers. I would like to know if the Osoyoos Town Council would consider a little bigger thank you for Dan Lyver's ten years of faithful service.
Rudy RichterrnOsoyoos