New Vernon visitor centre stalled by approval process

VERNON – People passing through Vernon won’t be able to visit the city’s new tourism centre for at least a few more weeks.

The visitor information centre was pegged to open May 1 on 39 Avenue beside Civic Arena, but the Ministry of Transportation’s approval process to rezone the property is taking longer than expected.

“I have no idea how long an approval usually takes, but two months seems like a long time,” Coun. Bob Spiers says.

In the meantime, the city extended the lease on the Highway 97 information centre, near the Vernon army base. It, and the information booth on the north end of the city, are being consolidated into the new 39 Avenue building.

There are still doubts around the controversial move, which drew almost 40 people to a rezoning hearing in February.

“I don’t think we’re going to have the number of visitors because I haven’t seen anything to suggest people will actually take their recreation vehicles and make that lefthand turn,” says Spiers, who has been opposed to the project from the outset.

Coun. Juliette Cunningham says the city’s request for advance turn signals to make it easier for people to access the information centre could be slowing down the approval process.

“They’re probably having to look at the implications of that because they’d have to invest in some infrastructure,” Cunningham says.

The zoning approval is expected in the coming weeks, but the Ministry will also need to approve signage along the highway to direct people to the visitor centre.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.