— Goal is to prevent interference with swimmers at downtown beach —

(OSOYOOS TIMES — September 20, 2006) —

By Julie TurnerrnOsoyoos Times

After much debate in recent weeks on whether to allow Hasskensen Development Corporation to include a dock at its new Watermark Beach Resort development planned for the old packinghouse site in Osoyoos, Town Council called for views from the public Monday night at a pre-Council public hearing.
It was possibly the shortest public hearing in recent memory, lasting less than three minutes.
Surprisingly, no one from Hasskensen appeared at the hearing. Only Michael Ryan, president of the citizens' group Osoyoos Now, spoke at the hearing, noting his support for the amendment on behalf of the society.
We would like to speak in favour of this bylaw and its amendment, and feel it's important because of the incompatibility of the dock with the swimming area, Ryan said.
To exclude a dock within the zoning of this development would be preferable, but we feel this is another way of making sure that a dock in this location does not happen. We trust the bylaw will have the desired effect.rnHe added Osoyoos Now had gone on record to propose that no dock be permitted at the site during the public hearing held in July.
Councillors and the public raised concerns in past weeks about potential conflicts between boaters and swimmers at Gyro Beach if a dock were approved for the area. Some on Council had also suggested the developers should grant a restrictive covenant to the Town, preventing the use of any part of their land that abuts the natural boundary of Osoyoos Lake for a boat moorage facility.
Earlier on Monday, Council held a special open meeting where it modified the wording of the zoning amendment bylaw to remove the words or within a distance of 100 metres and gave it second reading. The words were dropped because staff noted the request could be accomplished at a later date through the use of spot zoning.rnAfter the public hearing, Council gave third reading to the bylaw, saying if it receives any new information, it would rescind third reading and take the issue back to another public hearing.