Long ranging discussion on the future of Okanagan Falls held between ODN and Area Director Tom Siddon on Friday.
Garage on Hwy 97 unfinished
Pictured above (previously published on www.okfallsdailynews.com) is of concern to the local government as it is to residents and travelers passing through. Siddon says the owner appears not to be working on completion at the moment but he is hopeful that issues concerning signage, landscaping and location of above ground tankage can be agreed to and that the project will be complete for the summer. ” I want it finished” – “It doesn’t look good” as it is.
Governance Model – Siddon says incorporation or “the future” is just not that simple and he believes the government of BC has now agreed to cover the cost of a governance study that would help the resident of OK Falls and the surrounding area come to some conclusions on how to proceed. Siddon favours a lot of information being published and discussed on the area to be covered, number of people, number of parcels, overall size of the service area and the impact on costs and taxes. It does make sense to start with the sewer service area as the primary target.
The Area D Director says Okanagan Falls has a lot of potential and a lot of community pride and having more of a say on how the world affects them is a priority. Siddon says Hwy 97 joins community to community but in OK Falls it actually divides the village into two parts with safety an issue for those trying to get from on one side to another. Local roads and alleys still under the control of the Ministry or Highways and that should be replaced by a local crew in the future once the people decide (in a long process) of exactly what they want to do.
Economic Development Study – Funding has now been approved for a study on Economic Development or a plan for the shopping area of “the falls”. “This is a critical time” says Siddon with construction of the Provincial Correctional Facility north of Oliver. This time will see increases in values and other opportunities.
He wants the study group people to work with the Ministry of Highways on making the L shaped corner safer and address issues like the bridge and traffic calming measures through the business area. Siddon says a number of businesses have gone to great ends to modernize and improve their face and more of that must be encouraged. He hopes that the community will share their thinking to consultants and that concept plans will help to create a vision.