URGENT – Riverside Park needs your support!

  The RDCK Planning Department in Nelson is proposing amendments to Area B Land Use Bylaws and Zoning Bylaw. There is a public announcement in the Creston Valley Advance, May 6th, Page A5 for Waiving of Public Hearing and only accepting written submissions for or against the proposed amendments.   IMPACT TO RIVERSIDE PARK: RDCK Planning Department in Nelson does not support or sanction Riverside Park. While the proposed changes will not directly cause our park to be closed, if these wording changes go through, they could be used to indirectly provide more pressure to force Trails to close Riverside Park to the public. This would be yet another example of our community losing legal access to our valley’s waterways. Also, there are ZERO regional parks in the Creston Valley and this amendment could be used to ensure there are never any parks built here.   ASK: If you care, please send the following email message back to RDCK Planning Department, before 4PM on May 19th: TO: plandept@rdck.bc.caRDCK Planning Dept CC: Twall@rdck.bc.ca                     Tanya Wall, Area B RDCK Director CC: park@crestonvalleytrails.ca     Creston Valley Trails Society   RE: Against proposed amendments Bylaw 2748 to amend Area B Land Use Bylaw 2316, 2013   I/We do not approve of the change in wording to 15.0 Interpretation of PARK that will allow RDCK to arbitrarily sanction (or not) parks that are not owned by government. I/We do not approve of the change in wording to 16.53 General Regulations Uses Permitted in all Zones, as playgrounds and trails should continue to be permitted uses.   Signed: your name(s) Creston Valley resident --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   BACKGROUND: WHAT IS CHANGING?  Full report: 2021-04-28-Waive-Package.pdf (rdck.ca) These amendments include revisions to the definition of Parks and Parks permitted in any area, as follows: 16.53 General Regulations Uses Permitted in All Zones Existing wording: The following uses shall be permitted in any zone: a. Parks, Playgrounds and Trails; b. Fire Halls; and c. Unattended Public Utility Buildings and Structures.   Changed wording: REPLACE The following uses shall be permitted in any zone: a. Parks; b. Fire Halls; and c. Unattended Public Utility Buildings and Structures.   15.0 Interpretation of PARK Existing Wording: PARK means any publicly owned or privately owned outdoor land or facility specifically designed for passive or active recreation including tot lots, playgrounds, playing fields, walkways, trails, band shells, green space, buffers, nature interpretation areas and similar land uses, facilities, buildings and structures consistent with the purpose of such park land.   Changed Wording: REPLACE: PARK means land which is publicly owned or under the control of a government agency, or owned or managed by a community association or other registered non-profit association used for the outdoor recreation and enjoyment of the public including playgrounds, playing fields, trails, skate parks, allotment gardens, green space, buffers, ecological and archeological conservation areas, nature and cultural interpretation areas, and similar land uses, and where the park use is sanctioned by the Regional District of Central Kootenay or the Province. It may include Buildings and Structures ancillary to the Park. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   Thank you for your support and sending a message to the RDCK Planning Department that we want to keep our Riverside Park open. Trails for Creston Valley Society