Shannon Lake Current Issues
Current issues/concerns we are focusing on for our neighbourhood:
- Roads and Traffic: The Shannon Lake area has grown considerably in population in recent years. Increased traffic volume and speed is creating extreme concern for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. A top priority is upgrade of the our main transportation corridor, Shannon Lake Road. Sidewalks, Bike Shoulders, Safe Crossings, and renewal of decayed road surfaces on this corridor are a top priority for the well being of all residents.
Further, an originally single-family neighbourhood clustered around the central core of the Shannon Lake Regional Park, the Shannon Lake Golf Course, and the Shannon Lake Elementary School now has intensive multi-unit development encircling the single-family neighbourhood core. Development is inevitiable and often desireable, but, due to extremely poor historical access planning many transportation corridors to these new developments are through low density, family oriented, neighbourhood streets and school zones. Traffic calming, signage, and safety strategies are now required and becoming a priority to keep these increasingly busy family neighbourhoods safe for children and pedestrians.
- Development Pressure and Greenspace/Recreation/Environment: As the population in the Shannon Lake Area increases the existing parks and trails base becomes stressed. Much of the current raw land development has formerly served as "unofficial" parkland. As natural, undeveloped, land vanishes we must keep our focus on ensuring maximum consideration is given to replacing it with dedicated parkland and linear trail accesses to keep our residents connected and active. This is of prime benefit to both current residents as well as those moving into our area.
- Municipal Issues: The District of West Kelowna has undertaken the task of mapping the future of our entire community. This task includes considerable public consultation on many issues that will affect our livelihoods for decades to come. We, as a Neighbourhood Association, strongly encourage residents to become involved in this process. This will be the one chance history to have your say for consideration of the future of West Kelowna. The issues are many and some are quite complex. More information is available at www.definingWK.ca .
Shannon Lake Fishing Pier?
There is currently an initiative by local fishing groups under consideration by the Central Okanagan Regional District Board to construct a significant floating pier on the West side of Shannon Lake. The purpose of the pier is to provide greatly enhanced fishing access to children, elderly, and disabled who cannot readily access fishing at Shannon Lake by conventional means. Links to the CORD minutes on this item and the background information from the proponents of this initiative are linked on the sidebar. The "neighbourhood" as well as the District of West Kelowna are being sought for input with regards to this proposal. The benefits of such an initiative are obvious to the fishing community. The support of, or concerns of, the non-fishing community have yet to be established. As the community Neighbourhood Association we will be consulted for input. Potential issues identified so far include: vandalism, added attraction to after daylight hours youth activities (the Shannon Lake Park is already notorious for problems with summer youth parties), and safety issues that arise with unsanctioned after hours use, the visual impact and cosmetic design of such a large structure, and ? Many feel that the Park, in its current form, is pretty much ideal for all users (fishermen, canoeists, walkers, etc). Installing a large, permanent, man-made, structure into the natural setting may, or may not, be a positive addition for a very idyllic existing park. What are your thoughts? Please send them to us at opinions@shannonlake.org to allow us to understand the consensus in the neighbourhood regarding this initiative.
Shannon Lake Road Improvements Fall 2009
The District of West Kelowna has announced a road improvement package for the Fall of 2009 that includes, amongst many items, upgrades to Shannon Lake Road. The extent of the upgrade program is documented on the attached MAP. The road surface from Tallus Ridge Drive to Asquith will be replaced and a 1.8m bike lane will be added on the Shannon Lake (E) side of the road. Of note is that there are "sidewalk improvements" that are listed as "options". We understand these improvments may be curb, guttering, and sidewalk bordering Tallus Ridge property interfaces with Shannon Lake Road. These improvements will not run the full length of the asphalt improvements and will be contingent on an agreement between the District and the Tallus Ridge Development that is currently under discussion. We hope that the District may be persuaded as to the current importance of a safe pedestrian corridor along this entire stretch of road. This road is the only feasible pedestrian link between all residential areas North and East of Shannon Lake to the Shannon Lake Elementary School and to the Westbank shopping district. Pedestrians are risking personal safety to attempt this route under current circumstances given the very high (and increasing) traffic patterns and the S curve nature of the roadway where motorists tend to hug shoulders and straighten corners. We hope the District considers the importance and immediacy of a solution to pedestrian safety on this roadway and considers the remaining, non-Tallus, sidewalk improvements to also be a priorty (especially while the road contractors are able to efficiently improve the situation for safety of both motorists and pedestrians)!
Blockwatch Update
Two years ago the The Shannon Lake Neighbourhood Association hosted an open forum centered on neighbourhood crime and safety issues. At that time the CORD coordinator for the Neighbourhood Watch program, Duane McTavish, presented the program to our membership. This program has now been replaced with the Blockwatch program. Check the sidebar for the official introduction letter. The Blockwatch program provides street level solutions to residential security and is an initiative undertaken by residents themselves on a "block by block" basis. The SLNA may try to convene another general meeting to help launch this program in our neighbourhood.
Get Engaged in the Official Community Plan Discussions!
Consultations, discussions, and decisions are now being made that will become the guidebook for the evolution of our municipality and all neighbourhoods in general as well as our particular neighbourhood for many years to come. Our local government is actively seeking opinions and advice and has the ability to meaninfully incorporate reasonable initiatives and ideas into the Official Community Plan. This is our chance to actually have a say! We would strongly encourage participation in this process either by becoming involved in the SLNA or attending the OCP open meetings in person. SLNA will do its best to advise members of upcoming events. SLNA will also try to understand and represent the consensus of our neighbourhood to positively influence the OCP in the best interest of our geographical area.