35 pad trailer park within 20 feet of lakeshore will have severe consequences for Vaseux Lake environment
The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association (VLSA) and 98% of Vaseux Lake homeowners are appalled by the proposal at 3500 Highway 97.
An application has been submitted requesting the exclusion from the Agricultural Land Reserve of land at 1.2 hectares of Lot 1, sections 16 & 21; township 85 SDYD plan 1340 located at 3500 Highway 97 to create a large commercial trailer park with sewage, water and electricity.
The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association has identified the following environmental concerns which have been articulated to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen:
1) A trailer park with cement pads for 35 trailers within 20 feet of the shoreline will result in destruction of the sensitive shoreline ecosystem. Anywhere from 50 to over 100 individuals can be expected at the trailer park year-round and they will have access to the shoreline which is presently a bird habitat.
2) In 2010, the Agricultural Land Commission turned down a 12-unit complex on the same property. The Association believes a 35-pad trailer park would have an even more serious environmental impact, especially when considering sewage treatment and the dangers of sewage seeping into Vaseux Lake.
3) In both 2017 and 2018, flooding occurred on Highway 97, originating from a creek just north of where the septic field is being planned. An independent study needs to be done to assess how future flooding will affect any wastewater treatment system on the property.
4) Public access onto and off Highway 97 at the property is dangerous. Entrance from the south has
limited line-of-sight and pulling onto Highway 97 with slow-moving vehicles towing trailers where some vehicles are travelling over 100 km/hr has the potential to cause serious collisions.
5) It is the Association’s position that the property in question is zoned within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and that this designation is there to protect agricultural land. The owner as per the Electoral Area “D” OCP bylaw 9.2.13 must provide a report by a qualified Professional Agrologist stating the property is incorrectly designated. As the land had orchards in the past and presently has a vineyard, the Association questions the legitimacy of this request to change the designation of the land out of the ALR.
The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association strongly believes that Vaseux Lake bird and wildlife
conservation should take precedence over allowing large commercial trailer parks in a bird sanctuary surrounded by lands protected for wildlife. If you agree go to Vaseuxlake.com and sign the petition.
Norm Gaumont (Chair)
Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association