KAMLOOPS — Keeping an open mind is usually a good thing, but not always.
Kamloops City council got a surprise yesterday when resident Ruth Madsen let the cat out of the bag during public inquiries at the council’s weekly meeting about a proposed development.
According to Madsen, someone had told her about an in-camera discussion by council of a plan to build a two-story, 35,000 sq. ft. farmers market in the Heritage House parking lot.
Apparently, the proposal has also become known among certain community groups, but nothing official has been made public.
It put Mayor Ken Christian in an awkward spot, but he offered the assurance that there’s not anything to talk about yet and, if and when something becomes more definite, input will be sought.
The incident also resulted in a somewhat testy exchange between Director of Community and Protective Services Byron McCorkell with reporters afterward, as he told them the idea shouldn’t be killed before it even gets out.
“Let the people get the idea out,” he said.
Well, here’s the thing. It’s true that the public hasn’t had the benefit of seeing details of the proposal, and that proposals can sometimes be changed to be made more to the public’s liking.
So, if and when such a project is formally proposed, hopefully there would be plenty of opportunity for input.
But, back in 2011, when staff and council proposed a multi-level parkade in the same spot, all hell broke loose as people got their hackles up, big-time, over the thought of messing with the views into Riverside Park.
A counter petition killed it dead.
That precedent made it abundantly clear that anything that interferes with Riverside Park is a no-go zone.
So, yes, normally it’s good to listen to new ideas, but if City council doesn’t want another firestorm of controversy on its hands, it might want to consider simply making it clear that the Heritage House parking lot is off limits.
I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.
