Not a place for a kennel
We are writing this letter in response to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen decision of Sept. 7 to approve the application for re-zoning at 2027 Carmi Rd., in Penticton to allow a commercial dog kennel for 15 dogs from the previous bylaw allowing up to four dogs per residence.
As residents of this quiet, country neighbourhood (we live next door) it was obvious to us from the first public meeting in June that the rural director for this area and the planning staff at RDOS were going to approve this application, making our concerns and questions during the entire process redundant.
Director Tom Siddon commented on the submission of two petitions. At a meeting in August, upper Carmi residents presented a petition against the proposal with signatures from 20 residents directly impacted by this re-zoning application. The applicant submitted a petition with 150 signatures, which to the best of our knowledge, does not, with the exception of the seller of the property at 2027 Carmi Rd., contain a signature from anyone in the affected area. The larger petition included over 35 signatures of realtors from the office where the realtor representing the family and their purchase of their property works. We feel that realtor inappropriately solicited signatures from his co-workers. On this petition there were also signatures from residents in Summerland, Naramata and Okanagan Falls.
As one RDOS board member commented at the Sept. 7 meeting, which petition should carry more weight?
The notice we received regarding the Public Information Meeting for Aug. 9 stated “anyone who considers themselves affected by the proposed bylaw amendment can present written information or speak at the public hearing.” How can signatures collected from people who reside miles away have any influence?
We could have also encouraged our families, friends and co-workers to sign our upper Carmi petition but didn’t feel it was pertinent to the application.
We feel Mr. Siddon’s praise for the applicant and her qualifications at the public RDOS meetings were unprofessional. We wrongly assumed his position as an elected rural RDOS director was to be open and objective with all persons with interest in this re-zoning application.
Board chair Karla Kozakevich stated that RDOS has noise bylaws. We can only hope going forward the potential and realistic threat of 15 dogs to our peaceful, quiet community will be dealt with appropriately and in a timely manner.
Trevor and Corrine Wilson
Penticton