Home »
Commercial proposal out-of-touch with Kimberley’s vision
Letter to the Editor
This letter is to address the proposed rezoning of industrial to commercial land at 1006-304th Street and 361-315th Avenue, which has recently come to my attention.
As many other individuals in the community, I strongly disagree with amending the Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaws that would allow for a McDonald’s and gas station.
The supposed economic benefits do not align with the reality of Kimberley’s market.
The proposed business would NOT interact with the community.
- Labour crisis- Kimberley has no shortage of low paying jobs.
- Housing crisis – where will the people that this restaurant brings to work and live here? (because locally there is not enough labour for his type of job).
- Retail development should be in the retail areas to bring retail activity there.
- The COVID-19 pandemic, along with lift issues at KAR, have caused our local businesses to suffer. In particular, our restaurants and cafes have been hit the hardest, with numerous ‘Help Wanted’ signs found around town. Our city will not benefit from more minimum wage jobs from McDonald’s, nor a sixth service station. Adding in McDonald’s will take away from income earned by local restaurant and cafe owners. As a franchise, a significant portion of money earned from the proposed McDonald’s will not stay in our community. Supporting a McDonald’s in Marysville goes against economic resiliency, as well as the ‘keeping it local’ mentality.
- Kimberley is proud to only have one traffic light, adding one in this area will create congestion! Additional traffic lights would have a lot more value for pedestrians and in Schools areas.
The construction and running of this service station is contrary to Kimberley’s priority of protecting the natural environment. Businesses proposed (Mc Donald’s, Gas Station and car wash) have significant negative impact on the environment.
- Gas station contaminants, carcinogenic vapour.
- Wastestream into wastewater treatment and waste products from fully disposable operations. Some cities report shorter sewer system lifespan due to high water use and release of fats. Garbage – Invermere residents are reporting garbage strewn thru town since the opening of McDonalds a few months ago.
- Water consumption from a car wash when we are under water restriction every summer.
- We live in a stunning natural environment. As climate change threatens natural resources, we must focus on local solutions, such as food sources and renewable energy. Food from McDonald’s is by no means local, nor does it boast sustainable agricultural practices. Aside from it being a large corporation, cars will be idle in the drive-thru, creating more air pollution.
- What is the point of another (sixth) gas station and another fast-food joint in a small, rural mountain town, whose policies are to be more self-sufficient and climate adaptable?
- Kimberley residents voted in FAVOUR of creating and paying for a new and more sustainable wastewater treatment facility, it is not to then allow polluting business in town.
In conclusion I think we need these lands for future light industry and living wage secure long term jobs. We need to diversify beyond the retail service sector. This will do much more for our tax base and increase resilience and wellbeing of economy, community and environment.
The proposed commercial business of McDonald’s and service station in Marysville is out-of-touch with Kimberley’s vision for a healthy, resilient community and economy.
I hope you take into consideration the opinions of Kimberley’s residents on this matter.
Amelie Darblade,
Kimberley
