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John McDonald
By John McDonald
Kelowna Mayor Sharon Shepherd last night did her best impression of an Old West sheriff holding off the angry mob of townspeople.
The mob of townspeople in this case, is a group of residents and business owners living or working around the building on St. Paul Street that the potential owner wants to turn into a bottle depot.
They fear increased crime from what they say will be a wave of crackhead bottle pickers and all the other problems that are supposed to crop up where ever homeless or poor people congregate.
The group thought they could show up at the regularly scheduled public hearing held Tuesday nights in council chambers and air their concerns with the mayor and other councillors.
Instead, Shepherd met the mixed mob at the door and held an impromptu information and education session for the anxious residents.
Without even letting them step across the threshold, she quickly deflated the idea of an on-the-spot hearing and then followed up with a lesson in property zoning and allowable uses.
Her main point in simple terms; if it ‘aint forbidden, then it’s allowed and it doesn’t much matter what the surrounding residents or property owners think of it.
In fact, it doesn’t matter what mayor and council think, either. Real property is sold with zoning in place and the only person who can ask for a rezoning is the property owner. Only then can council weigh in.
If the zoning change conforms to what the long-term vision is for the area, then it might be allowed. If it doesn’t, they can shoot it down without further ado. To do otherwise undermines the whole concept of property use and development.
Zoning also comes with allowable uses and those can’t be changed in mid-stream for existing properties. The owner can voluntarily adhere to the new uses. Otherwise, the allowable uses are grandfathered in and will only change if the property changes hands.
It’s surprising how little most people know about the subject. There didn’t seem to be one person in the anti-bottle depot group who knew they have no right to demand a zoning change, or that council doesn’t normally get involved in the mundane details of business licenses that conform with allowable uses.
Some people think Mayor Shepherd is a little too nice for her position, but her years of experience sure showed up last night.
Ever the diplomat, Shepherd left the crowd with their dignity by acknowledging their concerns, encouraging them to form a small delegation to meet with the city and agreeing to accept the petition they hope eventually to deliver.
She also encouraged them to try to talk to the potential property owner in advance of the bottle depot opening as possibly the quickest and best way to address some of their issues, all without promising a single thing.
The sheriff done herself proud.
john@kelowna.com
250-575-0521
13 Responses to ““Sheriff Shepherd” faces down bottle depot foes”
Tags: bottle depot, mayor shepherd, st. paul street, zoning bylaws
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This is an example of a “Fluff Piece”.
Hey John, I hope you’re getting a dinner out of this.
Go objective journalism!!!
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Thanks John!
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Can’t let The Realist have the last word on this.
The report IS objective. Just because The Realist disagrees with this accurate account, that doesn’t make it “fluff” or biased.
His insinuation of free food for reportage pretty much indicates the depth of thinking at work here.
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Hey John,
Are you sure you were present at the meeting last night…maybe present in body, but absent in mind?
Just glanced at your mug shot…now I remember you…you were that guy who showed up 5 minutes before the end of the meeting…and spent the rest of the time talking to a colleague…and no time listening to what actually took place.
Talk about someone needing an education…on this issue, manners, and journalism.
Nobody spoke of, “crackhead bottle pickers and all the other problems that are supposed to crop up where ever homeless or poor people congregate”, other than you here in this poorly disguised piece of “inflammatory journalism”… and the use of the word “journalism” is giving you way too much credit.
In fact, the issues that were discussed at the meeting were traffic, noise, and safety…but you’re not interested in the facts…are you?
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Hey I’m just happy it wont be in the Mission any more. Too bad to sad, maybe your should move to the Mission if you have an issue with it.
I’m all for it, keep the bottle pickers downtown where they belong.
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I’m sure that if one of the neighbours doesn’t like the recycling depot after it opens, they will probably voice their discontent the old fashioned way, by torching the place…
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People don’t understand that bottle pickers don’t pick bottles off the street, they dig them out of garbage cans. What’s next, a auto wrecker? Thats recycling too, and a community service. How would anyone like that in their neighborhood? The big concerns of traffic and noise are ignored. Why would someone be happy that a bottle depot leaves their neighborhood just to become someone else’s neighbor. That makes no sense.
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John – you may want to replay the actual video you took last night. Seems your ‘journalism’ didn’t actually report the facts.
No angry mob. The group invited the mayor out, she didn’t have to intercept. Representatives had already met with the owner. Solutions had been discussed. Comprehension of issues and process. There was understanding the city is powerless… but there was a desire to show the commitment and concern of a NEIGHBOURHOOD.
Hope your tactic helps the ratings…
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I am curious why Mark from Mission would be “just happy it wont be in the Mission any more”?
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I am quite disappointed in John’s reporting on this matter. It is quite easy (I’d say lazy) to portray concerned downtown residents as snotty ignorant NIMBY’s. But I’d challenge John to find anyone who would want a bottle depot in their backyard. This is more of an NIABY industry (not in anyone’s backyard).
I wholeheartedly believe in recycling and know the Columbia Bottle Depot is a reponsible, valuable business. But it’s unimaginable to think of the sound of glass bottles being dumped into bins going on within feet of residences, plus all the customer traffic and 50-ft flatbed using the pot-hole ridden single lane alley already conjested with traffice from 250 residences using it.
I understand this is allowable under zoning, but that still doesn’t make it okay. Even under industrial zoning, a business cannot create noise pollution for adjacent properties and I intend to call the bylaw officer anytime it gets unbearable. There are much better locations for such a business just a few mere blocks north.
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Mary, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Calling the bylaw officers is exactly what you should do. But only when and if the noise becomes excessive (as determined by our city’s bylaws)not just unbearable (as determined by you alone). In the meanwhile, enjoy life in small-town downtown. Much like a child our city will only get louder, more vibrant and a heck of a lot more colourful as we grow.
As an aside, do downtown condos come with backyards?
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The patios ontop of the business level of St. Paul Place, Ellis Court and The Lofts Downtown are 500 sqft and up a piece. I would say that those are yards – so yes.
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Kelowna.com has bipolar reporting disorder. In my industry we prescribe medications for this. May I remind everyone: http://www.kelowna.com/2009/11/13/bottle-depot-forced-out-of-south-pandosy/
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