Coldstream Council DOES Listen

They asked for public input concerning the proposed RU10/RU30 re-zoning of acreages.

And they received it...chiefly from the hastily-formed Coldstream Acreage Owners' Association, once it became clear to landowners that Mayor Garlick and his council were seeking to re-write the rules governing acreages in Coldstream.

But would Council back off the plan to rezone people's lands?

                "...taking two steps forward

                     and one step back."

Jennifer Smith's Morning Star story on October 5th, 2012, explains:  "After being met with considerable opposition, Coldstream has scrapped its original efforts to retain larger parcels of agricultural land.

The district had initially proposed to create a 10-hectare (24.7 acre) minimum  for future subdivisions of Agricultural Land Reserve property.

Among others, members of the Coldstream Acreage Owners' Association spoke out against the proposed limitations.  With the current land prices and economic situation, the association points out that many farmers cannot afford to purchase, or manage, large parcels of land.  Therefore smaller parcels are sought and also provide opportunities for aging farmers to cut down their workload while giving interested future farmers the chance to grow their own.  

In light of the concerns over proposed limitations, Coldstream is going back to the drawing board on its agricultural plan.

Instead of rezoning lands, Coldstream is renewing dialogue about the appropriate size for agricultural lands -- as part of an upcoming review of Coldstream's almost 20-year old Official Community Plan.  

The recommendation is for each non-farm use, subdivision or exclusion application to be considered on its own merits and based on a number of factors such as soil capability, land use, topography, utilities and roads, etc.

But not everyone is eager to rework the plan.

'This is like taking two steps forward and one step back,' said Coun. Maria Besso.  'But maybe it's a necessary step back.'

Besso sticks by Coldstream's efforts to retain large parcels of agricultural land, as she points out that there aren't many.

'93.2 per cent of the parcels within Coldstream are already less than 10 hectares.  That's a point that wasn't made clearly enough.'

Coldstream's new director of development services, Mike Reiley, adds:  'It is a bit of a dance but I understand it was a bit of a contentious issue here in the community.'

Coldstream will begin to initiate dialogue with residents and property owners in December and throughout 2013 as part of its OCP review."


Oh yes, Ms. Besso, the point was made clearly enough.
It's the point of the Coldstream Acreage Owners that isn't getting through to our elected officials, and that point is:
DO NOT REZONE OUR LANDS...  

Ignore our point at your peril, Mayor and Council!

And now we landowners get to deal with this Mayor and Council all of next year as they manipulate acreage rezoning into the Official Community Plan. 

"Two steps forward and one back, indeed," sighs Kia, adding "they've been tripping over their feet with the legality of this from the get-go."