APC draft minutes show reservations and comments of planning commission (APC) on proposed Oliver Mountain recreational area

Area C Oliver RDOS

APC members raised a number of concerns regarding this application for motorized recreation track on Oliver Mountain:

·         Potential noise impacts to neighbours and beyond

·         Impacts to species at risk including Lewis Woodpecker and Antelope-brush

·         Motorized vehicles will not stay within designated area due to lack of fencing

·         It needs to be shown how this use would be compliant with the Okanagan Shuswap LRMP direction on uses of this particular Crown Land which we understand was to be reserved for a protected area

·         No provisions for monitoring usage

·         Motorized and non-motorized users groups sharing same area is not compatible

·         APC would like to see defined guidelines or protocol for motorized use, that could be used as assessment tool (i.e. staying within designated area, noise restrictions, use of spark arrestors and the concerns noted here) to determine whether used should continue after 5 year trial

·         After 5 years the tenure should expire automatically and a new application be made for this use on these lands. It should not be an automatic renewal. Review of any new application will be made conditional upon the compliance of the motorized users with the terms of the use guidelines in the previous period.

·         If guidelines/protocols are not followed, prior to end of 5 year trial, motorized use of the recreation area should be removed and the tenure cancelled for the motorized use of these lands.