Okanagan Basin Water Board gets 4 year mandate from RDOS directors:
Delegation form CAO of OBWB Dr. Anna Warwick-Sears giving a report to Regional District Directors Thursday in Penticton. Warwick-Sears says the OBWB is unique in BC funded by three regional districts and one river system – the Okanagan. Because of funding from the taxpayers of the North, Central and South Okanagan area much can be and is done to advocate for drinkable, fishable, swimmable water supplies.
Main priorities include: consultation on the ground water regulations with the province, curbing influx of invasive species and monitoring and documenting habitation on flood plains. 39% of funding spent on 4 staff, 47% on projects and 23% on grants to communities in the region.
The regional district passed the following motion today: That the RDOS upon mutual agreement of the two other districts reaffirms the Water Management Program of the OBWB and will review the program again prior to the municipal elections of 2018.
Many compliments around the table for the work of Water Board directors and staff.
Main priorities include: consultation on the ground water regulations with the province, curbing influx of invasive species and monitoring and documenting habitation on flood plains.
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Zoning change on two South Okanagan properties given the go ahead:
Deer Park -north of Oliver – zoning changes will ensure that all parcels conform to existing lots sizes of 350 sq. meters. This is despite the fact that a new zoning policy for manufactured homes at Gallagher Lake calls for a minimum parcel size of 500 sq. meters.
At a recent APC meeting on this question all the residents encouraged the RDOS to allow for the BIGGER size but directors seemed interested in the conformity issue.
The rezoning of a piece of land near Haynes Point in Osoyoos at 2815 85 Street was given approval despite the wishes of the owner who has launched a law suit on the issue. The RDOS states the issue is housekeeping and consistent with the history involved in leaving the land as a large holding rather than allowing multi-family dwelling construction.
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Land purchased by RDOS sold to province of BC for parks purposes:
In the spring of 2012 the RDOS was asked to purchase a parcel of land in foreclosure at 1295 Green Lake Rd.
$1 77,500 was taken from reserves and the property acquired. Today formal notice will be given to the public that the land is to be sold to the province as an addition to the provincial park to the north of said parcel. It is adjacent to planned hike and bike trails, the Okanagan River and a major salmon congregation area.