Council to consider plebiscite on SmartCentres

City Councillor Alan Harrison will be asking that a plebiscite be considered for the controversial SmartCentres application.

Harrison's request, scheduled for council's Nov. 9 regular meeting, is intended to garner community feedback through the informal voting process, the results of which would be non-binding on council's final decision.

Nathan Hildebrand, SmartCentres' land development manager, says the company does not favour the plebiscite as it's currently laid out by city staff. He says that while the question, "Are you in favour of the regional shopping centre (Smart!Centres) development proposal…" is fine, he views the voting process as problematic, from the proposed times of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., to how voters would not require proof of residency.

"We feel we should be going through the regulatory review process as any other developer would have to go through," said Hildebrand.

Warren Bell shares a similar opinion of the plebiscite. President of Wetland Alliance: The Ecological Response (WA:TER), an organization opposed to the location of the proposed shopping centre, Bell says the issue is far too complex and emotional, and that doesn't lend itself to a simple question of 'yes or no.'

Both Bell and Hildebrand say they wouldn't be opposed to a plebiscite if it is done correctly.

"If it's done according to how staff has it described in the council agenda as of right now, there's lots of problems," said Hildebrand.

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