Vaseux Lake, which has been a migratory bird sanctuary for the past 80 years, is a very small and shallow non-motorized lake in southern B.C.
The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association is strongly opposed to the removal of a 1.2 Hectare / 2.97-acre piece of property from the ALR (Agricultural Land Reserve) to be developed into a 35-site commercial campground.
Vaseux Lake Proposed Campground
The lake has faced many challenges over the years, and this proposed trailer park is a very serious challenge. According to current development regulations, in the space of what would typically fit a maximum of 7 homes on Vaseux Lake, the owner intends to place a 35-site commercial campground.
Under provincial rules, a campground of this type would allow a limited maximum stay. Unfortunately, those ‘rules’ are rarely followed or enforced. As a result, we envision 50 to over 100 people living there year-round and having direct access to the sensitive shoreline.
The property owner intends to place trailer sites at only 7.5 meters / 24.6 feet from the property line, while residences on the east side of the lake were restricted to be no closer than 15 meters /49.2 feet and those on the south side to be no closer than 30 meters / 98.4 feet.
The owner plans to place a cedar hedge behind the trailers which likely necessitate some tree removal. Behind the cedar hedge, he plans to install a 1.5-meter boardwalk along the lake, just outside 6-meter buffer from the shoreline.
Too, those cement trailer pads will include sewer, water, and electricity. The sewage will need to be pumped up to a septic pit, located directly adjacent to the vineyard currently on the property. Highway 97, just south of where the septic field is planned, has flooded twice in the past 5 years. A study will need to be done to assess how future flooding may impact the proposed septic field.
Last but not least, public access onto and off Highway 97 at the property is dangerous. Entrance from the south has limited line-of-sight and pulling onto Highway 97 with slow-moving vehicles towing trailers where some vehicles are traveling over 100 km/hr has the potential to cause serious collisions.
PLEASE sign our petition to STOP this trailer park development and preserve Vaseux Lake’s environment. NOTE: Donations made on the Change.org site do NOT go to the Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association.
Thanks and Cheers,
Ros
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