OSOYOOS TIMES-September 22, 2010

By Laurena Weninger – Osoyoos Times

The proposed Oasis medical-commercial-residential development moved ahead one more step on Sept. 20 when Osoyoos council gave second and third readings to bylaws that are necessary for the project to proceed.
“It’s not often you go to a public hearing where the majority of people are in favour of the project,” said Coun. Ted Cronmiller, adding he was “amazed” at the response from people who spoke out at the hearing for the development held at the Sonora Community Centre on Sept. 7.
Cronmiller was in favour of granting the readings to an Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment and a zoning amendment that will allow for the development to be built, as well as second and third readings and adoption of a phased development agreement (PDA) for the project.
Development and tourist accommodation covenants which forbid short-term residential rentals in the project’s 237 housing units were also approved.
But while councillors Cronmiller, CJ Rhodes and Margaret Chadsey all voted in favour of the readings, Coun. Michael Ryan and Mayor Stu Wells stood in opposition of part of the approval process.
“(This is) a major decision and one we will have to live with,” said Ryan, suggesting that the developers be asked to consider buildings that were not as high.
Wells agreed with Ryan and said he is disappointed with the process, not on the part of the developers but “internally.”
He said there was no opportunity to discuss the height, either within council or with the developers.
“To me, 10 storeys is too high,” Wells said. “At the end of the day 10 storeys is not the community I see so I will not be supporting it.”
Ryan’s motion to hold off on giving the readings was defeated.
A motion to proceed with readings of the OCP and zoning amendments was approved with Wells and Ryan in opposition.
A separate motion to approve the PDA and covenants was approved unanimously.
Promised to be built over a 10-year span, the Oasis centre would be located on a 2.37-hectare property at 9110 and 9120 Main Street, next to Peanut Lake.
Phase 1 is to be a five-storey medical-commercial building.
Phase 2 would be an eight-storey residential building, Phase 3 is a six-storey residential building and Phase 4 would be a 10-storey residential building.
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