SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME
67
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ISSUE
WHAT’S INSIDE:
NO.
2
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S U M M E R L A N D,
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
B.C.
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T H U R S D AY,
JANUARY
9,
2014
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16
PA G E S
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$1.15
INCLUDING
GST
Assessments increase Average home values higher in Summerland than rest of region by John Arendt While average property assessments around the Okanagan Valley fell slightly over the past year, homes in Summerland increased in value. The average assess-
ment value in Summerland for this year was $419,000, up from an average of $417,000 last year. The assessments are used when the municipality calculates its property taxes for its budget later this year. Of the communities in the South Okanagan, Similkameen and Boundary regions, Summerland
was the only one where the value increased. In Penticton, the average assessed value of a home fell from $374,000 to $372,000. Strata properties in Penticton fell from an average of $222,000 to $217,000. In Keremeos, the average assessment value fell from $241,000 to $225,000, in Oliver the decrease was from $303,000 to $300,000
and in Osoyoos an average property value fell from $369,000 to $364,000. Property values in Princeton dropped from an average of $214,000 to $204,000. In the Boundary region, the trend continued. In Grand Forks, the average assessment fell from $206,000 to $199,000 and in Greenwood, the average assessment
dropped from $126,000 to $125,000. Tracy Wall, deputy assessor with B.C. Assessment, said a few other communities also saw average property values increase. In Enderby, Coldstream and Kelowna, values are higher than in 2013, but elsewhere, the trend was slightly downward. See PROPERTY Page 3
Fundraising effort
A Japanese dinner and entertainment evening raised money to provide disaster relief in the Philippines.
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Agricultural campaign
A campaign has started in an effort to keep 87 hectares of land near the downtown core in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
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Counting birds
Observers from the South Okanagan participated in an annual bird count in December.
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Music concert
A concert this weekend will raise money to assist in humanitarian efforts in Africa and Mexico.
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Curling bonspiel
Curlers from around the region were in Summerland for the annual Bush Spiel on the weekend.
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YOUR SMILE Some people cause happiness wherever they go. Others cause happiness whenever they go.
A dash to the lake
John Arendt Summerland Review
Despite the sub-freezing temperatures on New Year’s Day, around 150 people went for a brief swim at noon during the 29th annual Polar Bear Dip. The swim was organized by the Summerland Kinsmen Club. See related story on Page 9.
Land use plan a slow process Numerous steps needed before growth strategy is adopted by John Arendt Summerland’s new Urban Growth Plan has not yet been adopted. The draft document of the plan has not even been completed. Municipal administrator Tom Day said much work still remains before
the plan can come before the table for its first reading. After that, a public hearing will be held, likely at a special meeting of council. The votes on the second, third and final readings of the bylaw cannot happen until after the public hearing has taken place. “There’s tons of work to be done,” Day said. The 95-page report from the consultants came to council in early
December. There are now several steps in order to proceed from the report to an Official Community Plan amendment, setting up a new Urban Growth Area. First, the draft document of the plan must be prepared. At present, members of the municipality’s planning department are working to create this draft document, but it has not yet been completed.
The proposal under consideration would call for the removal of 87 hectares from the Agricultural Land Reserve near the core of the community. However, the details have not yet been determined. “We don’t even know what it’s going to look like,” Day said. Discussion has included how much land will be added to the Agricultural Land Reserve to make up for the land which is to be
removed, but the details have not yet been worked out. In December, a map and guiding principles to frame a community plan amendment were brought to council, using the findings of the final report. At that meeting, council directed staff to present the Official Community Plan amendment.
See HEARING Page 2