The Town of Osoyoos and the owner of the Wish property orchard are at it again.
Both want the 22-acre orchard to be removed from the ALR, in other words de-developed. This has been tried several times before. The owner stands to make a bundle of money. Mission accomplished.The town has already expressed an appetite for taxes from that de-development. Squandering collected taxes is not uncommon in this town.
Green space within a town where actual real food is grown is not valued. Terminating nature is not a wise thing to do either.The preference is to cement it over forever. The Town of Osoyoos habitually does not consult nearby neighbours on plans that will ruin their daily existence. There would not be one resident favouring green space changed into an RV hangout for only part of the year.
The orchard owner has offered the town a piece of land for a future fire hall. Recently the Town of Osoyoos postponed, until April or May, seeking opinion regarding spending money on the proposed new main fire hall because, “many residents overwinter in the south and therefore would be denied expressing their opinion on this matter.” This month the town announced a public meeting regarding ALR exclusion of the Wish orchard. The above-mentioned reason for postponement was not applied which makes one wonder.
Luke Kurvers
Osoyoos