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The Skaha Bluffs Area Boundary Extension Application, a proposal to bring a 300-acre parcel into city limits, has received electoral approval through the Alternative Approval Process. The nearly two-month long approval process ended on November 15 at 4:30 pm. The City received 382 valid petitions opposing the application, representing 1.4% of the electors. An additional 10 petitions were received that were deemed invalid as they did not have a Penticton address or a signature. If 2,680 petitions had been submitted, representing 10% of the electors in Penticton, a referendum would be required in order for the boundary extension to proceed.
With the completion of the Alternative Approval Process, a Certificate of Sufficiency has been prepared to confirm the results of the electoral approval process. This certificate will be presented to Council at the next meeting on November 21 along with a staff report with a summary of the feedback collected through the engagement activities. The Provincial Cabinet will make the final decision on the boundary extension once they have received the results of the electoral approval process.
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John Trewhitt, Regional Director for the Kootenay Okanagan Region of BC Parks, has sent a letter to the City of Penticton confirming their interest in the donation of the parcel. See the excerpt below.
The general landscape of the proposed boundary extension area, particularly those components that reside immediately adjacent to Skaha Bluffs Park, have long been of interest for BC Parks. Our recent management planning process for the park, which concluded in July 2016, made it clear to our planning and operational staff that use and development on adjacent private land has both short and long term impact on park values. Therefore, our agency is very enthusiastic about exploring the prospect of a sizeable donation (estimated to be approximately 61 hectares/150 acres) of private land within boundary extension area. This donation proposal has the potential to support not only key rock climbing, hiking and mountain biking activities, but contains habitat that supports a variety of species at risk, such as Bighorn Sheep. Once further details of the donation become refined, BC Parks staff are prepared to take the donation proposal forward to our minister for consideration.
Follow the link to read the letter in its entirety.
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Change to Skaha Bluffs Alternative Approval Process timeline
Staff brought forward a report to Council yesterday changing the end date of the Alternative Approval Process for the Skaha Bluffs Area Boundary Extension Application from Oct. 31 to Nov. 15. The change in timeline was proposed to address a conflict in the dates included in some of the notices prepared for the community information sessions (including an email to Shape Your City Penticton members which identified Nov. 3 as the end date.) The change in date has the added benefit of providing more time for residents to learn about the proposal and the vision for the area and voice their opinion.
Family-friendly Open House coming next on Oct. 5
Since the application was first presented to Council on September 19, information about the proposal has been available on shapeyourcitypenticton.ca and staff have hosted information sessions on September 27 and 30. The next opportunity to learn more is on Oct. 5 on the playground at Wiltse Elementary between 3 pm and 7 pm. This family-friendly open house is intended to make it convenient for families in the area to attend. Wild Sheep Society of BC will have an educational display and a climbing wall will be available to keep the kids interested while the parents learn more. Look for the canvas tents on the playground.
Open House added on Oct. 14
Staff are taking advantage of the change in timeline to plan an additional Open House on Oct. 14 at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre between 10 am and 1 pm. At the Open House, residents will be able to speak with staff about the Upper Wiltse Area Structure Plan as well as the Skaha Bluffs Area Boundary Extension Application.