Joe Rich Developers

[Able]

Land developers are once again casting their baleful gaze on the region. In the recent past the community has managed to resist their most blatant attempts to circumvent the bylaws but the pressure is mounting, the bylaws are up for review and the sharks smell blood in the water. They are positioning themselves to be on the ground floor of the coming real estate boom and are insidious in their efforts to infiltrate any public office or regional district volunteer position that will aid them in their efforts to open the district up for their personal financial benefit.

The area is home to a mixture of highly educated professional people and farming/ranching families whos tenure dates back several generations. It is a good mix, it works and they all share a common bond with the land and the lifestyle. Few of the residents moved here because they wanted a condo as their neighbor or a Macs store within walking distance Like any healthy community there are differences of opinion on some issues,development is one of those issues and because it involves money it can sometimes be quite heated. I believe that the majority of the residents enjoy their lifestyle here and are reluctant to see any bylaw or land use changes that would open the door to more lax development rules.


There has been a change in this community in the last two years or so. More bylaw challenges and applications by newly arrived land purchasers put forward to subdivide land into smaller parcels than presently allowed. New individuals with a history of land development and connections to large land development companies positioning themselves within the community, volunteering to join local committees {preferably on committees that deal with bylaw changes} or running for public office, more large holdings bought by realestate sales people and cleared of timber in anticipation of a change that will allow smaller parcels.


These people and development firms rely heavily on one thing....public apathy. If constuents dont vote on issues such as bylaw changes then the developers will gather their local supporters and bus them to the polls to ensure that they get what they want. It is a tale as old as the conquest of any land and the strategy works. This is a well oiled machine we are facing. They have done this before and their playbook has been tested and proven effective in other locales. Once they make their fortunes here they will move on to the next sleepy little community...volunteer on the same boards...run for the same offices, achieve the same desired outcomes, this is how they make their living. They used to be called Carpetbaggers, now their here and they call themselves residents.


Joe Rich needs to wake up


When the rabbit squeals...the foxes come a runnin...but not to help.

[bob vernon]

As ALWAYS............ Okanagan municipal politics are about zoning and land use issues, usually hidden behind a smokescreen of rhetoric about any other issue. Costco. Homelessness. Drug use. Legalized weed. Accuse the current mayor of being something, anything.

After the election, the land use issues will appear. And it'll be about the annexation of land, sewer and water lines and who will pay for them. Road access and all infrastructure for the new growth areas paid for by who? The developer or the city at large? And the backers of the new council will get their way. As usual. The Okanagan has always been like this. Why would the plot line change now? There's big money to be made.

[George+]

Need to be specific about who is doing what and where, in Joe Rich.

I see little evidence of this happening.

There are advantages to some development in Joe Rich...perhaps a whole community water system?
Better fire protection. Better tax base.

[Able]

[quote="George+"]Need to be specific about who is doing what and where, in Joe Rich.

I see little evidence of this happening.

There are advantages to some development in Joe Rich...perhaps a whole community water system?
Better fire protection. Better tax base.[/quote

There are few advantages that residents crave...only changes that developers crave. First the developers send their minions to to pave the way and plant the seeds..."Hey Fire Department...Want that shiny new firetruck?....Gotta have a bigger tax base for that good buddy"...and that means development...'Are you on board there Chief?'

A community water system is ludicrous. There are few if any residents that have a paucity of water. HOWEVER...if a developer was to plan a new high density sub-division....WELL water is a concern and what better way to overcome it than to raise the tax rates of all residents to cover the new infastructure that only the developer will benefit from. And remember..with water comes sewer..with sewer comes treatment plants or sewage pipes to Kelowna treatment plants....all costs primarily subsidized by the residents.I very much doubt that the majority of the community moved to this area in the hopes that one day it would be just like living in the city.


There is an old great movie musical called The Music Man set in a small community called River City. I urge residents to find it online and watch. It is about a con man who comes to a small town and convinces the residents that they need the band instruments he is flogging even though they neither need nor want it nor can afford it.


We have just such a situation here in our community. Individuals new to the area out to enrich themself and their behind the scenes backers who are well known in the development community at large.


WE Got Trouble...Right Here In Joe Rich.......Wake Up!

[Able]

Need to be specific about who is doing what and where, in Joe Rich.

I see little evidence of this happening.

There are advantages to some development in Joe Rich...perhaps a whole community water system?
Better fire protection. Better tax base.

If you see little evidence of the manipulation of various committees, non-elected individuals insinuating themselves into "advisory" positions in various decision making processes even though they speak only for their own interests and gain and not for the interests of the community, then you are just not paying attention.


The by-laws for Joe Rich are presently being revised as mandated. This November the community will have the opportunity to see what changes/revisions are being proposed to the existing by-laws. The present by-laws have restrictions on parcel size and sub-division of lands. You can bet that the pro-development cabal has been "advising" certain officials in the drafting of these proposed changes. This is where the handiwork of the "advisors" will become apparent.


I object to the sneaky underhanded ways that the pro-development individuals are persuing their goals. If they want development then they should say so, encourage like minded residents to join them, make their case known, profess the benefits that this new direction would bestow on the community and go about achieving their goals in a forthright democratic manner. The very nature of how they are going about it now smacks of secrecy, manipulation and contempt for the democratic process. Times change, opinions change, community needs and desires change....this is normal but it must be achieved through processes in place and open to public scrutiny and comment. This is exactly what the developers want to avoid. Time is money and they want it now and if the existing processes do not fit their needs they will find away around it....done it before...got the playbook....will do it again in Joe Rich.


This land that we have is not owned by us...it is on loan to us by our children ...they expect that we will care for it. You dont see many kids building forts...chasing gophers...fooling in the creek... in gated communitees.

[Valeksky]

As a long time JR resident, I'm not seeing it. I am seeing some crazy radical views being expressed on the old group page, leading me to doubt the "highly intelligent" statement. I know of whom you speak of though. A developer, with the first name beginning with J, most likely. I think you're over-reacting. Like, a lot.

Still though, prudence is important, and crazy opinions are allowed as it usually means the truth is somewhere more towards the moderate.

[Able]

As a long time JR resident, I'm not seeing it. I am seeing some crazy radical views being expressed on the old group page, leading me to doubt the "highly intelligent" statement. I know of whom you speak of though. A developer, with the first name beginning with J, most likely. I think you're over-reacting. Like, a lot.

Still though, prudence is important, and crazy opinions are allowed as it usually means the truth is somewhere more towards the moderate.

You can think what you like...just because you don't see it does not mean it is not happening. There is nothing "radical" about it. Characterizing opinions that you don't share as "crazy" says more about you than the people you are attempting to demean.
You refer to "the old group page"....I am not familiar with it....please explain.

And please dont worry, I would never refer to you as one of the "highly intelligent" residents.

[Valeksky]

Ah, so you be a smack talker then? Fair enough, each their own, you won't find me doing that. Should you see personal insult in my post, that lies with your interpretation. Though, not having ever met me, reading one post, and then insinuating that I am not intelligent, hurts me in ways you can't imagine. ;)

The old group page is the Joe Rich Facebook page. Surely you partake in the joys of reading some of the reactionary and crazy posts there? If not, you're welcome to join in the fun. I've long since given up scrolling through crazy and radical posts there, and I likely don't need to worry about having to do more of the same.

[Able]

Ah, so you be a smack talker then? Fair enough, each their own, you won't find me doing that. Should you see personal insult in my post, that lies with your interpretation. Though, not having ever met me, reading one post, and then insinuating that I am not intelligent, hurts me in ways you can't imagine. ;)

The old group page is the Joe Rich Facebook page. Surely you partake in the joys of reading some of the reactionary and crazy posts there? If not, you're welcome to join in the fun. I've long since given up scrolling through crazy and radical posts there, and I likely don't need to worry about having to do more of the same.

Smack Talk eh...look at your first post for the definition of it.

As much as I enjoy an intellectual debate with an unarmed opponent it is a bit like kicking kittens and I try to avoid it whenever possible. I think your description of The Joe Rich Face book page contributors as "the old group" is quite telling. I guess that you would consider yourself one of "the new group" then? Maybe you could enlighten us "old groupers" as to your vision of the" NEW" Joe Rich. As for your group....is there a secret handshake?...Perhaps a cleverly designed clothing patch or tattoo? Where do you meet for your strategy sessions....an underground parking lot like on the X Files....perhaps a hayloft in a barn? We "old groupers" prefer to exchange our ideas on Castanet and the Joe Rich Facebook site and at community meetings....you know..in public more or less. But hey...that's just us doing it the old way...you know...in the open.


I would really like to hear your answers to these questions as soon as your developer guru tells you what to say.

[Valeksky]

Lol. Don’t go getting crazy now ;)

[ferri]

Let's get away from who talked smack and discuss the topic. :) Thanks!

[seewood]

Being in a rural community our self, A couple of things... Just ask the regional director what is coming down the pipe. Any town hall meetings throughout the year?
Note that sewage is a big issue with bigger developments as is water supply. Expensive dedicated treatment plants are required for increased density. Does the fire department have the kit to deal with increased development. If no then I suspect an increase in insurance could be seen. The developer could be persuaded to donate required equipment to deal with their plans.
Power supply? Upgraded power to the community?
Personally, I wouldn't get too excited yet unless you know some applications have been submitted to CORD.

Drove through Joe Ritch last weekend. Colours are spectacular right now.

[Able]

Let's get away from who talked smack and discuss the topic. :) Thanks!

I agree....getting sidetracked from the real issues is not productive but it does sometimes result in new insights.

The issue is whether the majority of Joe Rich residents want to open the door to increased development in the area and whether or not developers or their agents are already working behind the scenes to facilitate increased development through changes to the by-laws which are up for renewal as mandated.

[George+]

Guess you have no specifics, then?

[Able]

Guess you have no specifics, then?

You can guess whatever you like.