SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME
66
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ISSUE
NO.
22
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S U M M E R L A N D,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
B.C.
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T H U R S D AY,
JUNE
6,
2013
•
20
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Penny Lane Bargain Outlet carried an eclectic assortment of merchandise over its 11-year history.
Gun amnesty
British Columbians are urged to get rid of their unwanted firearms during a monthlong gun amnesty initiative.
Page 7
Bears destroyed
Nuisance bears have been killed in Summerland following complaints from residents.
Page 8
Music award
A Summerland singer won at the provincial level last week.
Page 13
Page 20
YOUR SMILE Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.
$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
Growth options shown by John Arendt
Page 3
The Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron 902 will hold its annual review later this month.
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Three scenarios presented to address future development needs within Summerland
Store closing
Cadet review
PA G E S
At bat
John Arendt Summerland Review
Jodie Brennen of the Summerland Beavers swings during a game at the Summerland Action Festival Slo-Pitch Tournament.The tournament attracted 74 teams from around the province. For more from the 31st Summerland Action Festival, please see Page 10 and 11.
Bylaw will allow electric vehicles by John Arendt
Small electric vehicles will soon be allowed on the roads in Summerland. On May 27, council gave first three readings to a bylaw allowing the lowspeed vehicles on municipal roads. The bylaw allows the vehicles on any road in the municipality with a speed limit of
no more than 50 kilometres an hour. All municipal roads have a speed limit of 50 kilometres an hour unless otherwise posted. The sole exception in Summerland is Highway 97. The concept of electric vehicles has been considered for many years. “This has been going
around the table since the early 2000s,” Coun. Bruce Hallquist said at the meeting. “It’s time to get on with it.” Hallquist has long advocated allowing the small vehicles. In the municipality’s Master Transportation Plan from 2007, electric vehicles are mentioned. See INTEREST Page 2
After hearing from hundreds of Summerlanders about the direction of growth in the community, consultants presented a choice of three scenarios for the municipality’s urban growth plan. The three options are a tight and dense core development, a node and corridor model and hillside development, “We feel we have three viable options,” said municipal planner Ian McIntosh. The compact development model has been promoted earlier, especially by Mayor Janice Perrino who has advocated concentrating development within a 15-minute walk from the downtown core. However, this model would also require the removal of around 45 hectares from the Agricultural Land Reserve, Jeremy Murphy, a consultant with Sustainability Solutions Group said. The hillside development model is closest to Summerland’s existing growth pattern. While it does not require the removal of agricultural land, it results in a more spread out community. The node and corridor model puts development around existing transportation corridors. Working with this model would require the removal of around 80 hectares of land from the Agricultural Land Reserve. McIntosh said the goal for the first phase of the consultation process was to hear from 1,000 residents. So far, between 750 and 1,100 have responded, either at open house sessions or completing surveys. “I am more than thrilled with that number,” he said. He said 309 growth surveys were submitted. On Friday, the consultants met with municipal council in the afternoon and with the public in the evening to present the three options. Consultants were also present at Action Festival to discuss the options and gather further input. Further information on the growth options and the urban growth plan can be found at futuresummerland.com.