In a four to three vote, Sicamous council defeated a zoning amendment needed to begin work within the district on the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail.

After a public hearing, during which a number of residents shared concerns regarding trail crossings, access and parking, the majority of council agreed at its Feb. 14 meeting that while they support the idea of the rail trail, there are still some items to be worked out prior to moving forward.

The primary concern of most residents, rail crossings and related agreements between property owners and the trail91裸聊视频檚 owners, the Columbia Shuswap and North Okanagan regional districts and Splatsin, was also one of the main issues for Coun. Ian Baillie.

91裸聊视频淚 view these crossing agreements as government run amok. I don91裸聊视频檛 think they91裸聊视频檙e needed,91裸聊视频� he said, comparing them to needing permission to cross a sidewalk or use a park. 91裸聊视频淭he government has a number of different ways how we regulate the use of public land91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频�

He added that what started as a project to unite and benefit the community is now having the opposite effect.

91裸聊视频淓verybody here tonight, there91裸聊视频檚 a love of this town that you can feel91裸聊视频� and to me, that was what the spirit of the rail trail should have been91裸聊视频� that it brings the town together,91裸聊视频� said Baillie. 91裸聊视频淏ut it91裸聊视频檚 not bringing the town together, it91裸聊视频檚 dividing the town.91裸聊视频�

Members of council in favour of changing the land designation from R-1 residential to P-3 Park-General said it was just the rezoning they were approving, though at the Jan. 24 meeting the Splatsin Development Corporation had said they anticipated a March start date. With too many questions remaining, Coun. Siobhan Rich said it91裸聊视频檚 just too soon.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not ready,91裸聊视频� she stated. 91裸聊视频淭he horse is in front of the cart right now and we need to make sure we have our ducks in a row, and we don91裸聊视频檛.91裸聊视频�

Coun. Gord Bushell agreed, citing the many unknowns that council still doesn91裸聊视频檛 have answers to, which they should before proceeding.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 no access, there91裸聊视频檚 no parking, and the safety concern across the bridge, no bylaws, nobody knows who91裸聊视频檚 going to police it,91裸聊视频� Coun. Gord Bushell pointed out. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not that I91裸聊视频檓 saying 91裸聊视频榥o91裸聊视频�, I just think we need to sit down with our CSRD91裸聊视频� I can91裸聊视频檛 go ahead with this knowing there91裸聊视频檚 no plan.91裸聊视频�

On the flip side, Coun. Bob Evans felt that those could be addressed as they go, and declared his intention of voting in favour because 91裸聊视频渨e have to put the truck in first gear to get things going.91裸聊视频�

Though Coun. Malcolm Makayev and Mayor Colleen Anderson joined Evans on voting in favour of the rezoning, the motion was defeated with Coun. Pam Beech, Baillie, Bushell and Rich opposed.