Learning from the example of Gibsons

Dear Editor:

There are many people I know who were not at the public hearings on the amendment to the OCP for Summerland, because they were of the opinion that Summerland council had already made up its mind.

In other words “This is a done deal, why waste my time?”

They have seen this council take great satisfaction in conducting the shortest meetings on record, when in fact they know that can be just another way of saying negligence of due diligence, or that this council is rubber stamping every development proposal that comes before it.

The mayor certainly indicated that they’ll hear every cockamamie two-bit economic development proposal that appears.

In case you think that  all councils are like ours, let me give an example of a highly successful community which considers at least two other sides in their decision making (that is, other than  economic development) when  considering their community’s development.

The community of Gibsons on the B.C. coast just received an award from the United Nations for being the most livable town in the world under 20,000 people.

That sort of recognition is priceless.

What are they doing there, I wondered, that Summerland is not, to win this award?

I went to their website and found that, unlike our council, they give great emphasis to abiding by their OCP. 

And that OCP states that council will use a three tier bottom line when making decisions

Those three tiers are: Natural Environment, Economic Development and Social Well Being, and all three are considered equally in the decision-making process.

Now isn’t that an eye opener?

At the beginning of the Gibsons OCP description, they state, “The OCP balances the need to encourage and enhance employment opportunities with the need to maintain a small-town atmosphere and quality of life. Using Smart Growth principles, the OCP serves as a basis for sound decision-making and sustainable practices in management and growth of our community’s natural environment, economy and social well-being.”

You can go to their website at www.gibsons.ca  and  read further on the description of their vision.

From what I have seen, and in the opinion of virtually everyone I have spoken with, Summerland Council’s only consideration is that of economic development.

With the amendment to our OCP, they have entirely repudiated Smart Growth principles, by allowing a large development to go ahead far from the town centre, when there remains much infilling that can be done.

I would suggest that that narrow view is a complete misreading of the current views of the citizens of Summerland, as evidenced by the large number of people who took the trouble to participate in the creation of the Summerland OCP and by the large number of people who came out to the public hearings this past month to voice their objections .

That narrow view is also out of touch with the world today, as evidenced by the actions of the town Council of Gibsons, their respect for adherence to their OCP, and their award from the United Nations. With this Council‘s attitude, we haven’t a hope in hell of ever receiving that award.

My question is: why is this council so rashly intent on circumventing/amending the OCP to essentially render it meaningless, when the community of Gibsons on the Sunshine Coast puts great emphasis on its OCP and consequently wins international recognition for the quality of life in their small town?

Sharry Schneider

Summerland

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