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Giuliano goes to bat for Fernie Ford
By Ian Cobb
e-KNOW
City of Fernie Mayor Mary Giuliano Jan. 8 managed to convince fellow Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) directors to reverse a decision not to support the city’s annexation of the Fernie Ford property on the eastern edge of the city.
The RDEK’s Planning and Development Committee decided the night before to not support the annexation, but Giuliano asked for a second consideration, noting she believed the committee based its decision on “false statements.”
“The city has spent many years to get to this point,” Giuliano told board members. “It’s not the first time the city has annexed one small area at a time. They (Fernie Ford) want to be annexed and we have everything ready to go.”
Electoral Area A Director Mike Sosnowski said he believes the entire block (around Fernie Ford) will eventually be taken into the city and delaying things “doesn’t do Fernie any good or solve any problem.”
Giuliano also pointed out the property has already been serviced by the city in anticipation of annexation – a point reflected in the RDEK Planning and Development Services staff report. “In June 2012, Bylaw No. 2339 was adopted which rezoned the subject property from RR-2, Rural Residential Zone to CG-4, Highway Commercial Zone to permit development of the Fernie Ford car dealership. This rezoning and commercial use was in anticipation of annexation of the property by the City of Fernie.”
Bruce Lennox, City of Fernie’s Director of Planning noted in the city report, Fernie would “capture approximately $36,000 in municipal property taxes based on 2015 tax rates annually from Fernie Ford. Fernie Ford has connected to City of Fernie water and sewer services and currently pays quarterly utility rates to the city. The Fernie Ford site was developed in accordance to the city’s Official Community Plan Highway Corridor design guidelines and Sign Bylaw regulations giving the property the appearance that it is part of the city.”
Additionally, Lennox said annexation would allow for greater fire safety.
“Although the City of Fernie Fire Rescue has a mutual aid agreement with the Hosmer Fire Department, the Hosmer Fire Department would be the first responder and would coordinate the response to an on-site emergency event. Given that the Fernie Fire Hall is significantly closer than the Hosmer Fire Hall to the Fernie Ford site, and would also have a quicker response time due to being staffed by professional fire fighters ‘24/7,’ the Fernie Ford site being located in the city’s municipal boundaries is more efficient from a safety perspective,” he reported.
After a brief discussion, RDEK board members unanimously agreed with Giuliano and voted to approve RDEK support of Fernie’s annexation of the Fernie Ford property on Brenners Road.
Electoral Area B Director Stan Doehle said he isn’t keen on individual property annexations by municipalities but would support this one. “It would simplify the process” if other area properties also entered city boundaries.
District of Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft said he found the issue confusing, noting it is not normal for a municipality to plan when land is not in its boundaries. “It seems a little weird to bring in one piece at a time,” he said.
Lead image from Fernie Ford
