From the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer:
The Township of Spallumcheen believes residents deserve accurate, clear and complete information about growth, development, infrastructure, water, and decisions affecting our community.
The Township understands that residents have legitimate concerns about the potential costs and impacts of growth. Those concerns are taken seriously. The Township’s responsibility is to make informed decisions based on facts, applicable legislation, infrastructure capacity, water availability, environmental considerations and the financial impacts on residents and taxpayers.
Population Growth
The Township is mindful that significant population growth can increase demands and costs for roads, infrastructure, fire protection, policing and other municipal and regional services. These potential impacts must be carefully considered before decisions are made.
Change from Armstrong to Spallumcheen Mailing Addresses
The change to Spallumcheen mailing addresses was undertaken primarily to better protect and support our residents during emergencies.
During evacuations in 2021 due to the White Rock Lake fire, many residents whose addresses were associated with Armstrong and Vernon experienced challenges in accessing emergency support services once evacuated. Township residents were not always immediately recognized as being within the affected area, requiring additional clarification with senior levels of government and delaying support for these individuals. Further complications with support agencies during the wildfire created confusion regarding which Emergency Operations Centre should receive updates.
By requesting that Canada Post recognize Spallumcheen addresses, the Township improved clarity regarding residents' locations and helped ensure they can be more readily identified and supported during evacuations and other emergency situations, while enabling information to be communicated more effectively and efficiently.
This change was made with the safety and well-being of Township residents in mind.
Regional Growth Management
The Township is not aware of any major development proposal that has been presented to the Regional District of North Okanagan through its Regional Growth Management process as a committed project that would accommodate 10,000 or more additional residents.
There are currently no Township plans to accommodate an additional 10,000 or more residents through corresponding upgrades to schools, Vernon Jubilee Hospital, policing, fire protection or other regional services.
Long-term regional planning does not, by itself, constitute a Township decision to approve or accommodate that level of growth.
Development Proposals and Township Commitments
Property owners and developers are entitled to bring forward development proposals. However, a proposal is not an approval, and it is not a commitment by the Township.
At present, one development is considering a phased approach to residential development. Any future development would depend on many factors including infrastructure capacity, servicing requirements and water availability.
No agreements or commitments have been completed or signed by the Township committing it to the development currently being discussed.
Any rezoning or development application must proceed through the required planning, servicing, public approval processes and must comply with applicable legislation, bylaws, policies and requirements.
There are important differences between a developer proposal, an application, a planning discussion, and an approved or committed project.
North Okanagan Wastewater Recovery Project
The North Okanagan Wastewater Recovery Project is a regional infrastructure initiative with purposes that extend beyond population growth.
The project has the potential to create additional water resources for agriculture during increasing drought pressures. Treated water storage may also provide additional benefits, including potential emergency firefighting uses. These secondary water uses of the recovered water could reduce pressure on existing groundwater and potable water resources.
Environmental protection and aquifer protection are important considerations, and the project must meet applicable provincial regulatory requirements and standards.
Public Engagement and Opportunities for Residents
The Township is committed to being transparent about what has been proposed, what is being considered, what has been approved and what has not been committed to.
Residents have numerous opportunities throughout the year to ask questions, share feedback, and participate in local government, including:
- Council and Committee meetings,
- public open houses,
- Coffee with the Mayor,
- community events,
- various round table discussion meetings,
- serving on committees, and
- other engagement opportunities that may arise throughout the year such as town hall meetings related to a single issue.
We encourage residents to seek information directly from the Township staff and Mayor and Council when questions arise. Public discussion is important, but it is equally important that residents have access to accurate information and that proposals are not presented as decisions that have already been made.
The Bottom Line
To be clear:
- There is no Township plan or commitment to increase Spallumcheen’s population to 15,000 people.
- There are no signed Township agreements committing the community to the major development currently being discussed.
- A development proposal or application is not an approval or a Township commitment.
- Any proposed development must proceed through the established public planning processes.
- Future development must be assessed against infrastructure capacity, water availability, environmental protection, emergency services and the financial impacts on existing residents and taxpayers.
- The North Okanagan Wastewater Recovery Project is a regional infrastructure initiative with purposes that extend beyond accommodating population growth.
The Township’s commitment is straightforward: residents should know what is being proposed, what decisions have actually been made, and what commitments have—or have not—been made on their behalf.
Council and administration will continue to approach growth and development carefully, responsibly and transparently, with the long-term interests of the entire Spallumcheen community in mind.
Doug Allin
Chief Administrative Officer