Nearly 100 people who gathered outside City Hall Monday will have their chance to voice their concerns in a second public hearing after Vernon councillors voted to defer the matter of the reconsideration of a covenant protecting the Great Blue Heron rookery.
Community members, undeterred by the rain, rallied June 8 in support of protecting the rookery off 20th Street in Vernon from development disruptions.
City council first voted to implement a covenant protecting the habitat site of the blue-labelled endangered species from construction disturbances following a lengthy public hearing in July 2019.
The covenant, which has yet to be finalized, limits construction during the heron’s spring-summer nesting season and put a 100-metre noise sensitivity buffer into effect, as advised by an environmental consultant. Several other stipulations, such as dust control and high-risk activities, are included in the covenant.
Following an independent land survey and environmental assessment, developers Scotland Constructors asked council waive the covenant as the proposed site of development is outside the 100-metre noise buffer zone.
Councillors unanimously voted to hold up its covenant during the regular meeting May 11 to avoid another public hearing, which would likely further delay construction. At council’s next meeting, the issue was brought up for reconsideration.
The North Okanagan Naturalists’ Club encouraged members and residents write to mayor and council to encourage the protection and upholding of the environmental covenant. Council received nearly 200 emails as a result.
Before the regular meeting June 8, nearly 100 supporters demonstrated outside as they could not physically attend the meeting in council chambers due to COVID-19 physical-distancing protocols.
More to come.
READ MORE: Restrictions still apply to Vernon heron rookery
READ MORE: Vernon’s Great Blue Heron a gift
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