Calendar
Direct 250-575-2468
Lake Country
Mortgage Broker
Proudly Serving
www.lakecountrycalendar.com
Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre and Carrs Landing since 1951
2013 & 2014
NATIONAL BROKER NETWORK OF THE YEAR
David Docksteader, AMP
April 8, 2015
A potential cost comes to light in rail purchase
Inside
Two residents have first-right-of-refusal to buy land that runs through their property KEVIN PARNELL
Education legislation will take away an option for parental input into the provincial school system. ...............................
2
YLW continues to grow Yet another expansion at the Kelowna airport means a better facility, and more job opportunities. ...............................
3
Flyers ■ Budget Blinds of Vernon ■ Coopers ■ Home Depot ■ Jysk ■ Rona ■ Shoppers Drug Mart ■ Staples
An Oyama homeowner whose property is split by the CN Rail corridor says it’s time the District of Lake Country put all of its cards on the table and tell people the true costs of purchasing the CN Rail corridor. Moira Day and her husband Colin—a former City of Kelowna councillor—are one of two property owners who have a restrictive covenant covering the CN Rail corridor on their property, giving them first-right-of-refusal to purchase the corridor should it not be used as a railway. The Day’s finalized their agreement with CN in 2010 after years of negotiation, after moving to the lakefront property in Oyama in 1985. The rail tracks run just a few metres away from the Day household and splits their property. Day says the restrictive covenant the two property owners have isn’t the only issue residents in the area are concerned about. “I just wish Lake Country would be totally honest and recognize the issues that are out there,” said Day. “Unless the public knows all the issues and the potential costs how can anyone
KEVIN PARNELL/LAKE COUNTRY CALENDAR
THIS SECTION of the CN Rail corridor in Oyama is where it enters private property and is covered by a restrictive covenant, giving two homeowners the first-right-of-refusal to purchase the land.
make an informed decision? That’s democracy. It’s not democracy when things are withheld.” Lake Country is going to referendum on April 25 asking taxpayers to authorize the borrowing of $2.6 million to go towards purchasing the trail in Lake Country. Kelowna will pay the other $2.6 million of Lake Country’s portion of the deal. The district will have to pay that
Many chances to cast your ballot in rail line referendum
Aly Naturally
No Nonsense Action & Results
back, over no set timeline and without interest for the first three years. The total negotiated cost to buy the corridor from CN is $22 million. Lake Country director of engineering Michael Mercer said the overall purchase price of the corridor includes the two properties with right-offirst-refusal. “If those residents exercise their right and purchase the parcels
from CN first, the overall purchase price for local governments would be reduced by the equivalent amount and these funds can then be used by the municipality to purchase the parcels back from the owners,” he said. Lake Country also said specifics on land and legal negotiations are generally confidential until concluded. For Day, a mother of
By taking a few minutes to look ahead at voting options, Lake Country residents can pick the most convenient time and place to cast their vote for April’s referendum to borrow up to $2.6 million for the 50 per cent purchase of the Okanagan Rail Corridor within District boundaries.
new price
four grown children who all reside in Lake Country and grandmother to eight, she says they haven’t decided what they are going to do when it comes to their right-offirst-refusal but says she won’t be voting for the acquisition of the rail corridor due to future costs that right now are unknown. “We’re not against the idea of a trail,” she said. “The idea of the trail is
“Local governments remain committed to acquisition of the rail corridor based on the understanding that CN is a private corporation with registered title to the corridor land and the legal rights to sell it,” said Michael Mercer, Director of Engineering and Environmental Services.
wonderful but to take something that is private and make it public impacts everyone that lives close to it. How many other issues are out there? My bottom line is, make an honest budget and let the people have an educated vote. I think people have a right to know what the true costs could be. I can see a legacy of a lot of debt because of all the ongoing costs and we’re a pretty small community.” Proponents of the deal say there wont be added costs in the future as groups such as the Okanagan Rail Trail Initiative have committed to raising $5 million with the chance to leverage grant money to double that for development of the trail. But opponents say there will be extra costs associated with opening what was a private railway and making it a public trail with things like policing, maintenance and development as well as other unknowns. Kelowna, Lake Country and the North Okanagan Regional District are in the process of due diligence, attempting to remove subjects to the $22 million deal with Lake Country’s April 25 referendum a key part of the deal.
“The referendum is proceeding as planned on April 25.” The District is providing a voting opportunity in each of the four wards during five advance voting dates, April 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21, and one
D L O
S
SEE REFERENDUM A3
new listing
9470 Mountview Road
11482 Hare Road
Completely upgraded home with large fenced Lake view & privacy. 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathrooms. backyard! Newer: Roof, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, Upgraded walk-out rancher with the master bedroom on water tank... MLS® 10095790 $592,000 MLS® 10094397 $389,000 the main.
11691 Daniel Drive
Orchard & Wood Lake View! 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Large usable backyard. Walk to Davidson Elementary. MLS® 10093553 $421,000
250.808.2573 • www.AlyRealty.com