Pro-expansion delegations hold forth at Council

Posted by on 3 November 2009 | 0 Comments

The Daily Townsman - November 3, 2009

Cranbrook City Council heard from four delegations at its regular meeting Monday, all giving their perspective on why the East Hill boundary expansion is once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be embraced.

Council heard from former Mayor Ross Priest, who acted as agent for Tony Novak, who owns the largest piece of property that would come into the city if the expansion is approved in the Nov. 14th referendum.

Priest told Council that regardless of the outcome of the referendum Novak will dispose of the land and that he is not interested in having his property placed in a land reserve.

Council also heard from Sheldon Isaman, who is President of Summit West Investments, which owns the second largest piece of property that would come into the city as part of the East Hill expansion.

Isaman said the boundary extension presents Cranbrook with a crossroads and that it will not cost taxpayers money. He pointed to previous boundary extensions in 2001 and 2007 as having no negative impacts to property taxes.

Council also heard from two separate delegations with the Yes to Opportunity group. Brian Sims, co-chair of the Yes to Opportunity campaign, told Council it is short sighted to say the City has enough land to grow in and that the expansion may be the single largest opportunity to face the City.

Joey Hoechsmann, the other co-chair of the Yes to Opportunity campaign, offered his view as an entrepreneur and business owner. He said if the outcome of the referendum is not to bring in the lands to the east, it will be like hanging a closed sign at the entrance of Cranbrook.