Why I'm Voting Yes

Posted by on 9 November 2009 | 0 Comments

Re posted from http://myyesvote.blogspot.com/

I decided that I needed to express my opinion about the East Hill Expansion in a way that would not cause offense but that hopefully would be read by those of you who have an interest in this subject.

First I am not a member of the Yes vote committee. I am an ordinary citizen of Cranbrook who owns my own home and pays taxes just like anyone else.

The no vote would have you believe that there is lots of time, no decision is needed now and that if we take this area into the City its going to cost lots of taxpayer dollars. None of this is really true.

If we vote no the developers will take other avenues to realize the value of the land. One such move could be as has happened just north of Radium at Elk Park Ranch. This once working ranch is now owned by 16 owners, yes that's right 16, each has there own residence behind gates and the conciege service deals with all the nuisance things like paying the taxes or keeping the yard up or making sure the heats on when the owners are coming for a visit. There is no public access, very little taxes paid and no a damm thing anyone can do about it.

Oh and by the way the RDEK, has no bylaws governing, steep slop development, Raparian wetlands, or wildlife corridors, all of these do happen to be in the City of Cranbrook bylaws and must be address by the developers before the land use plan is approved. Could this kind of development happen on the east hill? Of course it could, would it sell, think about it, do you think that someone in Dubai would be interested in owning 2-300 acres of prestine land in the BC interior next to a community like Cranbrook with very little taxes? I don't think even though the world is going through a recession that finding those qualified buyers would be that difficult.

Next the no side says the city has frozen the taxes, that is not quite true, the taxes are bases on the current agricultural zoning and that zoning will remain in place when the land becomes part of the city, however as soon as it is rezoned for development even if it is only a small piece it will be taxes at that zoning rate, when a house is built it will be taxed at an even higher rate.

Now about the portion that will be donated as park, most people are familiar with the community forest, many have climbed to the lookout and perhaps enjoyed a picnic up there, but the reality is that is not crown land it is private land, a large part of the north end of the property that is private land is used by users of the community forest as if it was part of the forest but in reality it isn't however if the Yes vote wins that is the portion that will become parkland. Once again something that the no vote failed to discuss.

If the yes vote wins the majority and the land becomes part of the city of Cranbrook the next step in the process is to first decie what we want the development to look like the official community plan, this process is by public hearing. Next the developers must present their proposals and they must comply with the OCP and then go through the public hearing process again.

Once the developer starts work they must provide all the services, that is the roads, water, sewer, electical etc, and the contribution of land to school sites and parks and complete all of this work before they sell the lots, then they will turn it over to the city who will in turn maitain and manage. However at that point in time the Cities tax base will have increase exponentially providing the needed cash flow to do that.

But here's the one that really cooked it for me. Fernie, Kimberley, Sparwood and Elkford all have areas within their boundaries that are significantly larger than the area within the City of Cranbrook, none of these have our current population base nor will they in the next two generations that this land will be developed over. Do we really want to hamper the future of our city and force our children to live in apartments or row housing just because there isn't enough developed land that will allow them to enjoy home ownership? I know I don't, this is not the UK or France or a former communist country like Russia where row housing ghettos have become the blight on all there communities. If that is a livable community I'm not participating.

Please be sure to vote and be sure to vote Yes our future depends on it.

Regards

Colin J. Campbell