Centre Stage Theatre was packed on Thursday evening as dozens of Summerlanders spoke out about a proposed change to the Official Community Plan.

Most of those who spoke were opposed to the change which, if adopted, would amend the community plan to include land in the Rattlesnake Mountain area in the Urban Growth Area.

At present, the land is designated for future growth.

The change would be the first step in approving a residential housing development in the area.

John Gordon questioned the reason for amending the community plan, which was adopted in April, 2008.

“Why have an OCP at all?” he asked. “Why not have helter skelter development? The idea that a council can make a total change is preposterous.”

David Gregory also questioned the change.

“The proposal tonight is a radical change in the direction of the OCP,” he said. He added that the change would also affect six master planning documents for the community, which would be rendered obsolete if the change is adopted.

Don Hudgeon, a member of the former OCP advisory group, asked that a decision be deferred until the future of the Summerland Hills Golf Resort is known.

The golf course development is proposed for the western edge of the municipality while the Rattlesnake Mountain lands are north of the town core.

Peter Waterman said the change to the community plan is inappropriate.

“The whole of the district is at risk,” he said. “This council is using a public process to render another public process useless.”

“The OCP is a long-range road map for the community’s growth,” added John Kingsmill.

John Dorn also questioned the amendment to the plan.

“Most people in this room elected council to be the caretakers of the OCP,” he said.

“I would have thought that the OCP would have had a longer shelf life than you gave it,” added Sheila White.

Others said the proposed development is in the wrong location.

Debi Johnson said the community should look at densification in the downtown core.

Paul Buddingh, who lives within 30 metres of the proposed development, said a development there would negatively affect his orchard.

But Vic Martens said the drainage problems could be fixed if the development went ahead. He added that one-hectare lots, which are allowed in the Rattlesnake Mountain area without an OCP change, would not be a good use of the land.

Rick Cogbill added that the traffic patterns along a north-south corridor would make more sense than the east-west corridor in the present community plan.

He added that the community plan did not have widespread support in 2008.

“It’s not an OCP that has been received well by this community,” he said. “Councils have a job to take difficult things and fix them.”

Karen Martens also believes the change should be approved.

“The OCP is a guide. We need to be able to change it,” she told council. “You were voted in on a mandate of change.”

Mike McCarty said the community plan is in desperate need of changes in order to manage growth.

Summerland’s limited water supply was also mentioned.

Joe Sardiha said the present water supply would be compromised if the community experienced two to three consecutive drought years.

Marilyn Hansen added that Okanagan Lake is now at its lowest level in many years.

The meeting ran for close to three hours.

Coun. Jim Kyluik was not present because of concerns about a potential conflict of interest.

Now that the hearing is over, council may not hear any new information on the proposal.

The next council meeting will take place on Monday and will be held at Centre Stage Theatre. At that meeting, council will vote on whether to give second, third and final readings to the bylaw to amend the community plan.