by Paul McMahon With all the recent media hype encouraging voters to shake off the chains of voter apathy and participate in the provincial election, it will be of interest to see how Powell River’s unique opportunity to test the fundamental cause of voter apathy is affected by the average voter’s inability to impact the decisions at city hall.
All projects have opposition. This is a fact, not an argument. It is the responsibility of elected representatives to gauge the level of support as well as the strategic benefits of all projects.
For numerous reasons the plot of waterfront land referred to as the old arena site has sentimental and historical value to many residents. This has been demonstrated by prolonged and rigorous protection for the land designation of parkland use only.
On May 10 City of Powell River’s Westview waterfront development committee put the finishing touches on its final draft report. The committee has worked long and hard on this multi-faceted project and achieved positive, lasting benefits.
There is, however, one small and some may say insignificant part in the report, which states that the committee, by unanimous consent, recommended to designate the lot of land commonly referred to as the old arena site as multi-purpose use including civic, commercial and residential and to incorporate this designation into the official community plan.
When asked if the committee has taken into account the petition of 5,000-plus requesting parkland usage only, a member of the committee indicated that its request for proposals had resulted in many suggestions and the committee selected what it thought best for waterfront development.
It should be noted that this responding committee member publicly addressed a Willingdon Watch group rally last summer, receiving applause for his candor, stating that he was one of the individuals involved in the condo proposal on the old arena site. He also continued in that speech to say that while he would like a condo to be built, he was prepared to accept the will of the people.
The stage is now set. In June, the final report of the Westview waterfront development committee will go to council. Contained in this multi-paged report is a relatively inconspicuous paragraph calling for the old arena site lot to be designated as multi-purpose use, including civic, commercial and residential to be incorporated into the official community plan.
Will council ignore the 5,000-plus petition registered at city hall? Can the average voter have an impact on the power of city administration, council and special interest groups? This is not a major strategic issue in the overall development of the city, but rather an issue that has precedence, historical sentimental value and the support of the largest petition in Powell River’s history.
Will council circumvent democratic principles by changing the designation of the old arena site in the official community plan to multi-purpose, including civic, commercial and residential?
Paul McMahon is a local resident who is hoping for change but expecting voter apathy to continue.
