The proposed sale of a Lake Country beach is closely tied to the district鈥檚 purchase of part of the Okanagan Rail Trail more than two years ago.

The need to raise $2.6 million to reduce 琉璃神社鈥檚 interest in Lake Country鈥檚 portion of the rail trail has driven the potential sale of Gable Beach, a district-owned stretch of land.

This week district staff met with the representatives of the Carr鈥檚 Landing Community and Recreation Association to discuss the potential sale and according to a release get 鈥� a win/win option and the understanding of two separate issues: The sale of public waterfront property (and) council鈥檚 intention to buy out 琉璃神社鈥檚 interest in the rail trail lands within Lake Country.鈥�

The district purchased the rail trail lands through its borders at a cost of $5.2 million, a contentious purchase that went to the public twice in 2015. First, an Alternate Approval Process failed before the district went to a fullin April of 2015.

Lake Country was able to borrow $2.6 million and 琉璃神社 jumped in with the other $2.6, with the understanding the money would be paid back within three years or interest would start to accrue.

Enter Gable Beach and the potential sale of the land to three home-owners in the area this year.

When Lake Country purchased the rail trail, there was talk of being able to sell excess lands on the old CN right-of-way, to make up the $2.6 million. There was also .

However in a , Lake Country said there hasn鈥檛 been any excess rail trail land to sell and the Gable Beach sale would bring in $1.1 million to be applied to the debt to 琉璃神社.

Once word got out in the community, the district deferred plans to sell after a . That led to this week鈥檚 meeting.

鈥淲e received a petition against the proposed sale of land and heard from a lot of residents in the neighbourhood of Gable Beach at the council meeting,鈥� said Mayor James Baker. 鈥淲e are glad that staff has taken action so quickly on the direction from council to meet with the representatives of Carr鈥檚 Landing Community and Recreation Association. Council is always interested in hearing from citizens impacted by the decisions and strategic direction of council.鈥�

District staff committed to inform council of the discussion and maintain an open line of communication with the Carr鈥檚 Landing Community and Recreation Association including advance notice of inclusion of the Gable Road end lands on future council meeting agendas.

The proposed Gable Beach sale isn鈥檛 the only hiccup Lake Country has faced since purchasing the trail. There is still the ongoing lawsuit from an over the expropriation of his land, of which the rail trail dissects.

The entire rail trail was purchased from CN Rail for $22 million between 琉璃神社, Lake Country, Coldstream, the North Okanagan Regional District and the Okanagan Indian Band, who joined the inter-jurisdiction team after first attempting to block the sale, saying CN Rail had an agreement to return OKIB its traditional land.

The Supreme Court application and the band eventually decided to join the development team.

However it鈥檚 portion of the trail near Duck Lake is not scheduled for development, while outstanding issues remain between the band and senior levels of government.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

kparnell@kelownacapnews.com
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