Coffee with the mayor (Ron Hovanes, right) on Monday resulted in various issues being discussed, including crime, traffic concerns, economic development and housing. From left are Joanne Bray, Yvonne Moore, Tara Hovanes and Dave Mattes.
Lyonel Doherty photo
Does Oliver have a plan to accommodate the influx of people working at the new prison?
Will the Town have better policing once it surpasses 5,000 population?
What economic benefits are there for new businesses to move to Oliver?
All these questions and more were addressed at a recent “coffee with the mayor” meeting in council chambers.
Local resident Cal Craik wanted to know if there is a plan in place to accommodate (house) the additional families moving here to work at the new correctional centre.
Mayor Ron Hovanes said council is reviewing the Official Community Plan to see where housing development would be best suited. He noted that council has given first reading to a manufactured home development proposal in the Meadows Drive area.
“Council is looking at what to do to attract housing,” the mayor said, mentioning the district’s Regional Growth Strategy.
Resident Cathy Pidduck asked if the Town will have better policing (and better response times) when it reaches a population of 5,000, at which point the Town must pay for the majority of policing costs.
Hovanes said it would give the community “more voice” in terms of how policing should be handled. He noted that when a member of the Oliver RCMP goes on sick leave, that position is not filled, which leaves a gap in service.
Craik wanted to know what the Town is doing to entice new businesses.
“We have lots of industrial park space, but nobody is using it,” he commented.
The mayor said council has made great strides in revamping its zoning and tax exemption bylaws, noting there are tax exemptions on airport land and the industrial area.
He also pointed out that the relaxed parking requirements in the downtown core make it easier for development.
Hovanes mentioned the idea of taking the reins and developing a vacant lot downtown. “Maybe we need to become entrepreneurs in our own town.”
Another issue that was brought up was pedestrian safety.
Tara Hovanes pointed to the intersection of McKinney, Tucelnuit and Black Sage Road, where some motorists speed, making it a “dangerous” corner.
“I want to know what you’re going to do about it,” she said firmly to her husband, the mayor, which prompted laughter from the audience.
Tara expressed her concern that the correctional centre and new Area 27 race track will likely cause an increase in traffic in this area.
The mayor said he actually notified the RCMP last summer when three or four Lamborghinis were travelling about 100 km/h past his house in the vicinity of children. (He didn’t realize the vehicles were part of the race track announcement last year.)
Councillor Jack Bennest said this intersection needs to be reconstructed, suggesting it might be a good location for a traffic circle.
Initially, Fairview Road and Spartan Street was the suggested location, but council is looking at other areas for traffic-calming.
Bennest said the Spartan Street location isn’t the preferable site, according to people he has spoken to.
He noted this area isn’t the busiest in town. As a result, staff should be looking at other areas, he believes.
“If you build it they will come. But if you spend a dollar on a round-about, you should place it in the busiest area of town rather than a semi-residential zone.”
The mayor pointed out that four-way stops, such as the one at Park Drive and Eastside Avenue, work as traffic-calming measures.
“That would be a simple solution on Fairview.”
Councillor Larry Schwartzenberger said he has heard people voice their preference for a round-about at the intersection of Fairview Road and Station Street.
“You would wipe out parking there, so I can’t imagine how it would work. We should get more public input.”
There was also mention of establishing a round-about at Park Drive and McKinney Road. But Director of Operations Shawn Goodsell said that would require some land acquisition.
He noted that during last year’s open house on the linear park project, a lot of people liked the concept of a round-about at Fairview and Spartan.
Council agreed that the Town could not move forward with a round-about if it cannot get grant money.
Chief Administrative Officer Heidi Frank said a round-about would not be funded on its own, noting it would have to tie in to the Fairview Road upgrade project.
Coffee with the mayor also touched on what has been happening at Park Place, the condominiums that were vacated because of suspected earthquake damage in 2011.
Craik wanted to know why the residents haven’t been allowed back in the building.
Residents have been waiting for a decision on their claim from the insurance company.
Craik said if he was a resident of Park Place, he would simply move back in.
Strata council president Stuart Syme told the Chronicle that he was unable to discuss details at this time.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
