Proposed Summerland development meets community resistance

Surrey, B.C.-based developer Lark Groupis facing pushback in response to itsproposed development in Summerland with a petition against the project drawing 1,400 signatures, more than 10 per cent of the town's population.

Resident DonnaWahlsays she has"a multitude of concerns" including the location of the project which she describes as"totally wrong."

TheSummerlandfish hatchery the oldest in B.C. and one of five freshwater trout hatcheries in the province depends on an aquifer locateddirectly underneath the proposed site.

"If the water supply is in any way affected ... it could shut the hatchery down forever," saidWahl.

MalekTawashy,the project development managerat Lark Group, said the developer will actually improve the hatchery's water security by collaborating to address the hatchery's declining water source

"We're actively looking to ... come up with a long-term freshwater supply that will in effect leave the hatchery in a better position," he said.

Wahlsaid there's nothing the developers can do to get her on board besides move the project to a different location. She points toblocks of land closer to the downtown core as a better place to develop.

"That's where the majority of our seniors want to be. They don't want to be walking or driving up to town, they want to be in town," she said

Both the Freshwater Fisheries Societyof B.C.(FFSBC) and the Penticton Indian Band(PIB) have written letters against the planned development. PIB Chief Chad Eneasis strongly opposedthe development, writing that"the proposed operations have the potential to pose threat and burden to the environment, water, wildlife and our economy and thus impact Silyx Title and Rights."

The FFSBCwrote that itcannot support the proposal unless its concerns over the creation of a contingency water sourceare addressed.

"We value every concern"

In Tawashy's mind, proximity to the downtown core is less important than theviews of Lake Okanagan.

"It's a beautiful place, and we believe this project can bring a lot of benefits to the community, local businesses and the residents," he said.

According to Tawashy, the pushback is part of the process.

"Any development ... encounters this type of opposition. What's important for us is that many of the concerns and issues that have been raised really go into making a better project," he said. "We value every concern."

Tawashy saidhis company is in the midst of working with Summerland'smunicipalstaff to address specific concerns.

Wahlis unconvinced.

"The council or the mayor keeps saying they're doing theirdue diligence, but I question at what point is enough due diligence is done and common sense should take over," she said.

"This could be quite a battle for quite a while."