Kelowna Springs Greenspace
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
One of the basic principles in our fight to win back personal autonomy and freedoms from the numerous governmental entities that attack us on a daily basis is that we must fight change at a local level. Today I am asking you to help me in my battle to preserve Kelowna Springs Greenspace. Many of you who live in Kelowna already know the background of the situation, but here is a summary of the current problem:
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For the past 4 years, the owner of Kelowna Springs Golf Club has been in private discussions with the City of Kelowna to redesignate the golf course from “private recreational” to industrial lands.
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Last year, Kelowna City Council inadvertently approved this designation when it was inserted in the 2040 Official Community Plan (the “OCP”). It is not known how many councillors were aware of this change of usage when they voted to approve the OCP.
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Shortly thereafter, it was disclosed that a developer had purchased the lands, with the intention of turning them into an industrial area.
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Once it was discovered that the lands had been redesignated, there was a public outcry, and Councillor Luke Stack tried to revert the designation of the lands under the previous council. Unfortunately a tie was reached, and the redesignation remained.
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This year, Councillor Stack raised a motion to schedule a public hearing for the designation of these lands, and it was approved. This means that the City of Council has a chance to right its wrongs on June 6, 2023.
Kelowna Springs Greenspace is more than a golf course; it houses protected species like bald eagles and osprey, as well as frogs, turtles, foxes, coyotes, fish, muskrats and other species. It is also one of the first feeders for pollinators in the spring due to its 35 year-old willow trees. These lands, and the springs underneath, directly feed into Mill Creek and Simpson Pond, and act as a “sponge” when Kelowna’s low-lying lands are seasonally flooded. The Vancouver developer, Denciti Development Corp., that has purchased these lands intends to turn these 106 acres of beautiful, pristine greenspace into a giant industrial zone. While industry is important to Kelowna, it is clear that it should not be allowed in such an important and ecologically sensitive zone. As a freedom fighter, and protector of my local environment, I also take great offense at a developer from “the big city” who knows nothing about Kelowna’s geography, let alone values, coming in to make a quick buck and leave before any of the environmental (and financial) effects will be felt by the residents of this city.
I am asking each of you to please visit all of the below web pages to offer support and assistance, if you are able to do so:
Website: www.savekelownasprings.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090188149577
Twitter: https://twitter.com/savethesprings1
GiveSendGo: https://www.givesendgo.com/savekelownasprings
Please also note that if you have any questions, you can email info@savekelownasprings.ca for further information. Please also add yourself to the distribution list on the Save Kelowna Springs website, so that we can keep you up to date on the latest developments. Letters to City Council must be sent after May 22, 2023 in order to be reviewed for the public hearing.