Mayor Walter Gray's announcement putting a hold on the boundary study may have come as good news to many, but it only took the "join City of Kelowna" message off the table for a while.
I believe the true motivation behind all the incorporation talk has been the Kelowna Mountain development. I suspect that since the boundary study was initiated by Lake Country, it gave the city an opportunity to reinforce its south boundaries in regard to Kelowna Mountain.
Ellison and Joe Rich just got caught in the crossfire, and there was never was a real concern in regard to these boundaries.
The developer has already invested a great deal of money into his project and will likely not stop easily. I am told he is continuing to develop outside the proper process and understand that suspension bridges and lifts have already been installed.
Regional director Patty Hanson's public support of this is extremely curious.
Although I personally don't give two hoots about the development, it does take place within my electoral area, so I have been put in a position I must act on, as it could potentially affect my taxes.
I have big concerns about the impact it would have on our already stretched services, such as water, access roads, waste, etc.
That is why the developer must follow the proper process, so our government officials can address these. Oh, to go back to our rural, sleepy lives. Unfortunately, I don't think it's on the near horizon.
Edna Thiessen,
Kelowna