By Pete McIntyre

Petition looks to protect herons

Jul 8, 2019 | 2:45 PM

An online petition aimed at protecting Vernon’s Blue Heron nesting area has generated over 1,200 names

A public hearing will be held at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. today to get input on a developer’s plan to rezone land near the heronry at 5000 20th Street from rural small holdings to low rise apartment residential, with city staff supporting that change.

A group called Friends of Animals Vernon is arguing against the zoning change to protect the birds.

“To effectively protect these sensitive animals, they need an undisturbed buffer zone around them to shelter them from noise pollution and human activity. This area is an important habitat with a fragile ecosystem that needs protecting if these birds are to survive,” reads the petition on change.org.

The Vernon Heronry Protection Society said a registered restrictive covenant was agreed upon in 1992 by the Regional District of the North Okanagan signed by RDNO and the late Jan Bos, who along with his wife, have worked to protect the heronry from development.

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City staff feel the impacts can be managed.

“To support the redevelopment of the property, an environmental mitigation letter has been provided which states that while a development project may impact herons during their sensitive period (March 10-August 31) the impacts can be mitigated (i.e. scheduling high risk-activities during the least risk period, providing a 1O0m buffer during the sensitive period, reducing dust generated from construction activities, etc.). lt is therefore recommended that a ‘Land Title Act -Section 219 restrictive covenant be registered on the subject property to ensure the necessary mitigation measures are adhered to during development,” stated a report to council from Carie Liefke, Planning Assistant with the city.

Friends of Animals said the heronry has approximately 52 nests.

“In 2018, 120 adult Great Blue Herons were recorded in the location of 5204-20th Street. These birds are blue-listed, which means they are an indigenous species considered to be vulnerable in their locale,” stated the group.

Heron (change.org)

by Pete McIntyre

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