ADAMS RIVER: Developer drops marina from controversial plans

Opponents of a controversial resort project are claiming victory after the revelation that plans for an expansive marina at the mouth of the Adams River - one of North America's most famous salmon runs - have been scrapped.

"Now that they've changed a major component of the project, we firmly believe this rezoning application should die," said Jim Cooperman, president of the Shuswap Environmental Action Society. "They should have to come up with a whole new plan and reapply."

New Futures Building Group, which owns the 12-hectare site, had hoped to build 218 year-round residential units, a 160-berth marina and 10,000 square feet of commercial space, in a mixed-use development dubbed West Beach Marina.

But company representatives told a jam-packed public hearing Monday night that the marina is no longer on the table and that the height of the commercial space has been reduced to 11.5 metres from 16 metres.

West Beach Marina developer Ken Ellerbeck did not return a reporter's phone calls yesterday. However, staff with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District said the changes won't affect the proposal's ability to move forward.

Regional district directors are expected to vote on the application in mid-May.

Opponents say the project, bordering Adams Lake and Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park, about 40 kilometres south of Kamloops, poses a serious threat to the Adams River salmon run.

"We think there would be a lot of negative impact on water quality if you put a big development right there by the mouth of the river," said Nelson Leon, chief of the Adams Lake Indian Band. "Right now, it doesn't have that level of year-round density - you're talking maybe 1,000 people over four or five months."

Mr. Leon blasted the regional district for failing to consult natives on the sensitive development, and said if the project is approved, he will demand a "judicial review" of the process.

Mr. Cooperman said his group plans to lobby the provincial government to buy the land and give it protected status.

Environment Minister Barry Penner said yesterday that ministry staff are talking to potential funding partners and trying to determine where the land fits on the ministry's property acquisition priority list.

"We will see what we can do here in terms of the Adams River and Shuswap Lake area about a possible addition to the provincial parks network," Mr. Penner said. "But first we have to have some evaluations and discussions with our potential funding partners."

The Adams River salmon run draws thousands of visitors from around the world and is heavily promoted by the tourism industry in Central B.C. In peak years, as many as three million returning fish make their way up the Adams River to spawn.

The high level of community concern over the proposal was underscored by the estimated 400 people who showed up for Monday's public hearing, held at the Scotch Creek firehall, about 25 kilometres from Salmon Arm.

About 150 of those crammed into the firehall, while the remaining 250 huddled outside in near-freezing weather, listening to the proceedings on a speaker system set up by regional district staff.

Local business owners rented a pair of propane heaters and a large picnic tent to provide some warmth and shelter for the crowd. Salmon Arm Mayor and regional district board chair Marty Bootsma described opposition to the project as "overwhelming."

"There might have been one person who was actually in favour of it," he said.

The proposal now heads back to the regional district board for third reading, scheduled for mid-May.

(prepared by Brennan Clarke/Globe & Mail)