Note: This letter refers to an application to annex two neighbouring properties on Catherwood Road to the City of Revelstoke. One 13-acre property is owned by Peter Bernacki, Melinda Bell and Richard Mickle. The other 40-acre property is owned by David and Shelley Evans. Their stated goal with the annexation is to support future development on the lands. An alternative approval process is underway regarding the application, meaning 10 per cent of city electors must come forward opposing the annexation by Dec. 16 in order to trigger a referendum. City council supports the annexation. The writer of the letter has launched a petition opposing it.
Editor,
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter in regards to the annexation application for two properties on Catherwood Road.
This land is way too nice as farm land and has agricultural value. The 2003 Mount Mackenzie Master Plan did not include this land in the resort lands — they knew back then the importance of this land as farmland.
I also have concerns about what development of this property could do to water users in the area. I hope this doesn’t turn into a Thomas Brooks situation where our water is getting polluted by unnecessary development. I would like to see better water studies done on this land.
We have a lot of conflict of interest with this council and I wonder if they are fully knowledgeable about this land that is in front of them. This is not a game of Monopoly where you can just put up hotels because you have the money. You are making decisions that are affecting longtime residents of Revelstoke and future generations.
It is my opinion the City of Revelstoke cannot prove the need to annex this land for future complementary development in which no one knows what that means. There are a lot of people in that neighbourhood who do not support this, but according to the city, we do not have a say. What kind of ludicrous democracy do we live in?
I hope somebody at some level can see the injustice that is about to happen if this property is annexed to the city. It will be a sad day for regional district property owners and residents as you will set a precedent for future annexation applications. We have some very important agricultural lands for sale right now by Williamson’s Lake that will certainly come up for development processes. Let’s not start a domino effect.
Slow down and let’s get this one right.
Daren Corneliuson,
Revelstoke