Marathon public hearing sees Sahali development proposal forwarded to ALC without council support

“We’re not surprised it’s sort of moving forward,” Jesse Ritcey, program manager with the Kamloops Naturalist Club, said Wednesday.

“Usually, city councils do kind of move things along for housing and housing is obviously a very important value, but I think they heard from thousands of people through the petition and through the public hearing about a lot of other values and concerns.”

Those concerns include wildlife in the area and ongoing development into natural areas, as well as factors like increased traffic and added pressures on nearby McGowan Park Elementary School. More than 3,000 people signed a petition opposing the application to the ALR, as they said it provides a “space for reflection, recreation and connection with nature.”

“There was some apprehension and discomfort about, at this juncture, enthusiastically backing this housing development plan,” Ritcey added Wednesday.

That apprehension was evident as councillors appeared to water down a staff recommendation that the city should support the application. It was a suggestion of Councillor Margot Middleton, who said it should be up to the ALC – not city council – to decide the fate of that plot of land.

“This became a public hearing more about the pond and the neighbourhood, less to do with the Agricultural Land Reserve and the need to retain that or keep it for agricultural purposes,” Middleton said. “What’s going to happen to Gambles Pond and our neighbourhoods, and how much traffic is going to go through – those are all things that will come forward if the ALC approves the removal.”

“We can’t go, in my opinion, to sort of pre-judge what we think that outcome should be – support one way or another. The onus is on us to submit the application and that’s what we’ve done.”

Councillor Nancy Bepple wanted the city to support the application as presented by staff, as the land is not currently zoned for housing. She said that means there will be plenty of opportunities for public input – before any development can take place.

“There was concern for what they might lose but you have to also remember we as council have to balance off the needs of a specific neighbourhood with the needs of the entire city,” Bepple said.

“Within a couple decades, we’re looking at 30,000 more people in Kamloops and we need places for Kamloops to grow.”

Things are in a holding pattern for now after council’s decision Tuesday, but the Kamloops Naturalist Club is hoping the ALC rejects the application and that it puts this issue to bed once and for all.

“This is attempt number four with the ALC and attempt number two with the OCP bylaw changes,” Ritcey said. “Protecting ALR land is an important value and I think we only have so much of it and when you build over it, it’s gone forever.”

by Victor Kaisar

Marathon public hearing sees Sahali development proposal forwarded to ALC without council support

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