Post by John Zeger on Apr 11, 2005 9:17:47 GMT -5
This past week Kelowna hosted the "Economic Summit" sponsored by the Okanagan Partnership, a group with representation from various regional stakeholders. Some of the Okanagan Partnership's proposals such as a regional perspective on planning problems such as water usage and an emphasis on creating conditions that would encourage the location of non-polluting, high-tech industry in the Valley are laudable. However, I am troubled by the call from the O.P. for "smart growth" instead of sustainability. The O.P. seems to have many worthy but contradictory goals e.g., increased population growth, opposing urban sprawl and promoting compact development while preserving the beauty of the Valley and residents' quality of life. Well, high density urban development will achieve the first two goals but will work to the detriment of the latter two. The O.P. opened the conference with a film entitled "Sunshine Eclipsed" where a little girl is sad about the effects of urban sprawl upon her quality of life but wants to "make sure my valley grows." Now although I can easily see the negative impacts of uncontrolled population growth on the well-being of children, I honestly doubt that many of them reflect upon and are boosters for growth. And although urban sprawl will result in an increase in air pollution so will high density development as I can't see occupants of $500,000 and up luxury condos taking the bus. Also I can't think of a better way of "eclipsing" the sun than through blocking our view of the sky by erecting highrises !