Regional Growth Strategy to blame for CAO woes?

Maybe.
Since the results are the same, it doesn`t matter which came first.

The Regional District of North Okanagan began a Growth Management Strategy five years ago which, last year, led to a Memorandum of Understanding among the adjacent communities of City of Armstrong, District of Coldstream, City of Enderby, Lumby, and Spallumcheen Township.

Managing growth...hmmm.


That's something the Coldstream Acreage Owners has felt, with the District of Coldstream's plan to "protect" agricultural lands with the proposed rezoning of Coldstream acreages to RU10/RU30.

Apart from proving there are way too many bureaucrats on resident-funded payrolls, you'll fall off your chair when you read the memo from regional growth strategy coordinator, Anthony Kittel, in which other communities got to have a say:  Regional District of Central Okanagan, Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Thompson Nicola Regional District, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, Regional District of Central Kootenay. 

Huh...the Kootenays...

Before your eyes glaze over, look at the 12-page "One Region, One Future", especially maps beginning on page 3, which brings to mind a saying:  `the problem`s bigger than all of us.``
 
The RDNO website states the North Okanagan had: 

• Eight growth issues
• 830 residents commented
• 135 working group members
• 200 policy recommendations
• 1,400 municipal council comments
• 1 Regional Growth Strategy

Were you--as a resident of Coldstream--one of the 830 residents, or one of the 135 working group members?  I thought not.  Neither was I.

The 75-page Growth Strategy Bylaw is here: 
Have a good look at the map on page 21 for where growth will be allowed to occur.

Coldstream residents will be wondering what came first:  the Rural Protection Boundary, supported by the growth strategy, or the RU10/RU30 "protection of agriculture".  Either way, growth or change is dead.

So what`s a Rural Protection Area anyway...

``RURAL PROTECTION AREAS: are areas that will not have access to water and sewer infrastructure, consist of large lot sizes and are associated with rural uses. Rural Protection Areas are intended to provide for a variety of rural land uses, including low density rural residential development, natural resources, and agricultural and existing small scale neigbourhood commercial uses. Rural Protection Areas help protect rural landscapes and agricultural lands, prevent unsuitable urban development and densities, limit water and sewer infrastructure extensions beyond the Rural Protection Boundary and maintain rural lifestyle
options.  Natural lands, open spaces, agricultural lands and environmentally sensitive lands that are unsuitable for residential development are included within the Rural Protection Areas,
including: the Agricultural Land Reserve, watersheds,  conservation areas, natural habitats, grasslands, forests, wetlands, major parks and recreation areas. Rural developments around drinking water sources and reservoirs should be restricted to protect water quality and quantity.  The Rural Protection Area is complementary to the Okanagan Shuswap Land and Resource
Management Plan (OSLRMP) and does not discourage appropriate designated Crown land uses, as represented in the OSLRMP, UC‐2.8 and UC‐2.9.``

Whichever came first, this growth management strategy is all about control, control, control of a population whose freedoms no longer include choice and self-determination on land we have bought and paid for.
The phrase ``...will not have access to water`` made one resident this morning state: ` `those are fightin`words.``

"These plans are turning the acreage owners into a Distinct Society," suggests Kia.

Just think...all this BEFORE an NDP government takes the reigns in Victoria.