In protest of Sicamous council’s split vote that defeated the necessary rezoning to allow work to start on rail trail, Leanne Hamilton has started a petition demanding they reconsider, and is holding an open house for public input.
At the Feb. 14 council meeting, councillors opposed the zoning amendment affecting the district’s end of the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail, cited issues of trail crossings for dock owners, lack of access from town and parking. Though the public hearing held at that time had a number of residents speak against the rezoning, the district received 11 letters in support, with the writers now trying to overturn the decision.
“This decision deeply affect me and many others who believe in the potential benefits this trail could bring,” Hamilton, owner of Hooked Decor & Gifts, said in her online Change.org petition. “The Shuswap Rail Trail is more than just a path; it represents an opportunity for economic growth and promotes healthy living within our community… the council’s decision seems short-sighted considering how much we stand to gain from completing this project.”
Hamilton will be hosting a public meeting about the issue at the Bruhn Crossing at 1214 Riverside Avenue at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, with the petition also available to sign there.
As of Feb. 21, the petition, which can be found at www.change.org, has 122 of its now 200-signature goal after hitting the original target of 100 within a day, and Hamilton has collected 129 signatures in a door-to-door campaign.
Read more: 4-3 split vote defeats rail trail rezoning in Sicamous
Read more: Work on Sicamous section of rail trail to start in March