Matt Fraser says that far from being a simple naturist clothing-optional area, Three Mile Beach has turned into a “kinky swingers type beach.”
Fraser, whose family has lived on Three Mile Road since 1951 was part of a delegation to Penticton city council Monday evening to ask for help regarding the controversy over naturists using the public beach area, a problem he says has grown in recent years, especially in 2014 when Cary Pinkowski, a neighbour, closed access through his land to a more secluded area of the beach.
Fraser said there is more going on than just nude suntanning. He has found sex toys and condoms in the area, and doesn’t feel that the neighbourhood should be left to deal with the problems.
“It seems like we are being bullied out of our community,” said Fraser. “It is very emotional for me, because it is our community and we feel that we are being bullied out of it. I don’t see any other way of controlling it than stopping it.”
Pinkowski, a venture capitalist in the resource extraction sector who owns lakeshore property along Three Mile Road, had some strong words for Penticton city council about his and others’ opposition to the use of Three Mile Beach as a clothing optional area.
Pinkowski told council that property values in the area were already being affected by the nudist beach, and would be harmed further should the city either make it official or decide not to take action.
“The neighbourhood would seek economic claims against the city if nothing is done,” said Pinkowski. “There will be no compromise for our children, our neighbourhood will not back down on this at all,” said Pinkowski, adding that no one has polled the homeowners around the beach about their wishes.
“We absolutely reject this and so do 200 of our neighbours,” he said, referring to a petition collected by opponents of the clothing optional beach.
Pinkowski was responding comments made by Kevin Proteau that both Mayor Andrew Jakubeit and RCMP Sgt. Rick Dellebuur both assured him they wanted to get together with all parties and find a peaceful resolution.
Proteau, who said he has been visiting the beach for five years as a naturist, suggested an easy solution would be for the city to simply post signs advising the area was clothing optional, but that is unlikely to satisfy Pinkowski, Fraser and other neighbours. The solution proposed by Pinkowski and his delegation was for the city to bring in a $100 fine bylaw for bathing contrary to the Canadian Criminal Code’s stricture on nudity and indecent exposure.
“Once they get enough fines, I think they will get the message,” said Pinkowski, who also told council that the nude beach was affecting property values in the area
Rick Giles, another Three Mile Road resident, supports the naturists and their use of the beach.
“I am here tonight to speak out against some of the bullying and some of the misrepresentation that is going on by the delegation that is going before council tonight,” said Giles. “We need to hear from a few more people on that block. And we have to keep in mind that the beach is not a neighbourhood beach, it is a community beach and I think there is room in Penticton for a little bit of diversity.“
Both sides seem to be firmly entrenched. The naturists argue for the health benefits of their practice, and point out it is rising in popularity, suggesting it as a new tourism source for the community.
But opponents of the clothing-optional beach argue that it isn’t the City of Penticton responsibility to find another beach for the nudists. There is nudist camps all over the world, but they are on private property, according to Pinkowski.
“Why don’t they buy a piece of property? Because they will never get the support of the neighbourhood,” he said.
While he didn’t set a date, Jakubeit agreed that he would like to meet with all interested parties, recognizing that both sides are very passionate about their rights.
“We have to make sure we are not catering to a vocal minority on either side,” he said, noting that this was the first time the issue had been officially presented to council. “We want to take the emotion away and see if we can find some amicable solution that appeases the community.”