City rezoning its own land on Skaha Lake?

[mrmagoo]

There is a rezoning application and proposed amendment to the OCP for nine lots on or across from Skaha Lake on South Beach and Sudbury which are part of the park and a residential home on a big lot - think it is being debated tonight at Council.

The City purchased one of the lots a while back and the whole area was zoned parks so that in future it could be turned into park and connect Skaha and Sudbury beaches.

Seems like this Council has reversed this plan and now wants to see medium density in this area which is not supported by the OCP so they are trying to amend the OCP too. This would result in a huge increase in the value of the lots owned by the City but would also mean no development restrictions other than those generally governing medium density so a four-story condo could go up on the waterfront there - or a lot of them. No parks that is for sure.

Did anyone go to the meeting tonight? What was the outcome?

[scorpion1024]

they voted not to change anything.

[Static]

^^^^ I'm glad they are going to connect the two beaches. I think that waterfront should be able to be enjoyed by all.

[mountain sky]

I am very happy to hear. Once that land is gone, it is gone. Sometimes money is less important than legacy. Perhaps we need to be a little more creative with the purchases. Not sure if works in BC but in other provinces you can donate land in your will to City parkland and get tax receipt for value for your estate. Maybe set up a Parks Foundation Trust that people can donate money (tax receipts)to use as down payments on homes and rent to cover costs gradually acquiring the land. Just some thoughts, lots of best practices in North America. Don't need to reinvent the wheel. Just a few thoughts

[mrmagoo]

I'm glad too - that plan seemed short-sighted.

[twobits]

^^^^ I'm glad they are going to connect the two beaches. I think that waterfront should be able to be enjoyed by all.

There isn't two beaches to connect. Sudbury beach is native locatee land. When that lease expires, will they refuse to renew it like they just did with airport beach?

I fully understand people's desire for those properties to be bought and turned into beach and public parkland, But I also see the reality of the situation in what it would cost to purchase some 20 waterfront homes at probably a cpl of million each and wonder if that money could be better used elsewhere. It's a pretty high price for another 500 or so ft of sand when we already have a cpl of miles of sandy public beach.

[ToddT]

^^ a couple miles of sandy beach that isn't as full as it could be.

[mrmagoo]

I don't think they can purchase all the lots on south beach and there never was a plan to purchase the sudbury houses. I wasn't in favour of the 4 story condos along south beach waterfront and am glad the re-zoning did not go thru - totally contrary to the ocp.

[twobits]

I don't think they can purchase all the lots on south beach and there never was a plan to purchase the sudbury houses. I wasn't in favour of the 4 story condos along south beach waterfront and am glad the re-zoning did not go thru - totally contrary to the ocp.

I didn't think the Sudbury Ave houses were part of the plan either but was not positive.
Acquisition of the South Beach Dr homes for public beach and zoning density are two different topics really. Acquiring these properties for some extra beach is really a non starter from a perspective of wise use of tax dollars.
Having said that, I am in total agreement with you that the best case scenario is to accept the fact that it is private property that the city does not have the disposable income to purchase, and leave it as single family residential.
Why increase zoning to enrich those property owners on a dead end short street? Doing so would just make any future acquisition even more expensive. Completely counter intuitive and I would like to know which bureaucrat recommended this to council in the first place. There is some head examining to be done here and a scrutiny of bank accounts for any recent large deposits.

[XT225]

I thought that the beach WEST of the Sudbury Concession was Locatee land but not East; though I could be incorrect on that.

It appears that finally city council might just be listening to the electorate when they chose NOT to rezone it last night. If they change any zoning, I would like to see them sell off the Skaha Marina. Its a shame what's happening (or NOT happening) there this year. The city should not own a building like that; we shouldn't be subsidizing private business. Sell it off and put hotels restaurant, marina there but not with public funding. I know...tis slightly off topic but still related.

[GordonH]

Here is the City of Penticton map http://mapping.penticton.ca/pentictonproduction/

[twobits]

Here is the City of Penticton map http://mapping.penticton.ca/pentictonproduction/

Thank you for that. I had always thought that the little creek west of the concession stand was the boundary between PIB and City.
So the beaches could be connected. Will just take 40 million plus to do so.

[twobits]

Sorry, but I have to retract that. I think that both myself and XT were correct in what portion of Sudbury Beach is actually city land. The map provided by the previous poster shows the City boundary all the way over to the jetty of the channel. That little creek immediately west of the concession stand however is an original drainage point of the oxbows, can clearly be seen in the previous posters provided map, and that was the reserve boundary......all lands west of the original oxbows.

This map supports that point. So, my understanding is that 90% of Sudbury Beach is reserve lands.

http://clss.nrcan.gc.ca/map-carte-eng.php

[twobits]

I have drilled down on this and XT and myself were correct. The only part of Sudbury Beach that is City owned is the parking lot and about 30 metres of sand. This city portion is actually surveyed as being two panhandled residential lots next to the last house you see built on the eastern end of Sudbury Ave.

[nepal]

Sorry, but I have to retract that. I think that both myself and XT were correct in what portion of Sudbury Beach is actually city land. The map provided by the previous poster shows the City boundary all the way over to the jetty of the channel. That little creek immediately west of the concession stand however is an original drainage point of the oxbows, can clearly be seen in the previous posters provided map, and that was the reserve boundary......all lands west of the original oxbows.

This map supports that point. So, my understanding is that 90% of Sudbury Beach is reserve lands.

http://clss.nrcan.gc.ca/map-carte-eng.php

Thank you for the map link twobits....interesting! Apparently much of the land west of the oxbows is PIB.