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By James Peters

Chase Development

Chase residents to gather Tuesday to oppose golf course redevelopment

Jul 8, 2019 | 3:48 PM

CHASE, B.C. — A group of concerned Chase residents plans to come out to the village council meeting Tuesday to show they want a lakefront property to remain green space.

The property in question was part of the Sunshore golf course along Little Shuswap Lake.

Resident Wayne Quinn says the property is zoned for green space or a golf course. At Tuesday’s meeting, council will vote on whether to send an official community plan amendment to public hearing, preparing the property for possible development.

Quinn says the property is on the flood plain and he is worried any future catastrophic flooding will leave the village on the hook.

“With all the controversy across Canada and North America and for the world tying into climate change, we’re not planning to build anymore on flood plains,” said Quinn. “The feds, as recently as last week, said they will cover grandfathered communities like the recent incident in Grand Forks, but in the future, if communities build on the flood plain, they’re no longer going to come and — to use a pun — bail us out.”

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Potential development for the property has been in the offing for more than a decade. Quinn says previous councils have rejected the proposal out of hand, but he’s worried this council will reverse course.

“The expense of any kind of flood damage, infrastructure damage from building on an area of flood plain is going to be borne by the community,” said Quinn. “Somehow, our village council and mayor just don’t seem to be getting that concept, even with all the news that’s been out regarding other communities.”

“Lately, our goal has been just to get the word out that it’s coming up again, and how important it is both from an ecological perspective and a flood risk and infrastructure damage perspective,” he added. “This could bankrupt the community if the worst case scenario happens.”

Quinn calls the issue a “passionate” one within the community, and expects a strong showing at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“We would like to see it maintained as green space, something held in perpetuity where everyone can enjoy a park-like setting. Being really the last piece of waterfront on the Little Shuswap that’s not developed, it’s important to us,” said Quinn.