By David F. Rooney
Revelstoke “has got off track” and needs to find its way back to its traditional way of making change for work to the advantage of the community, says former mayor Geoff Battersby.
“We have to work together,” he said in an interview taped on Thursday for broadcast at 7:10 am Friday morning, November 20, on EZ Rock and subsequent posting on The Revelstoke Current.
Geoff had many interesting comments to make and maintained that the project as it is envisioned right now needs to be altered so that it does not damage the local community.
A retired physician and former mayor, Battersby is easily one of Revelstoke’s most influential and trusted community leaders. He’s also a thoroughly prepared individual and came to the interview with printed answers to the questions he knew he was gong to be asked. (Because of the importance of this issue, EZ Rock’s Shaun Aquiline and I decided to give him an advance look at the questions.) He was little nonplussed when I told him he couldn’t read his answers but he was mollified when I promised I would publishing his printed responses. Please activate the audio player below to hear the interview, which was originally broadcast on EZ Rock at 7:10 am on the morning of Friday, November 20:
Please see our questions and Geoff’s answers in PDF format below
Five questions for former mayor Geoff Battersby
1) Historically, Revelstoke’s downtown merchants have always opposed change they perceived as a threat. That was the case when the Alpine Village Mall was built, when Southside was built and even revitalization was regarded by some as a threat. There were worries, too, about competition from retail shops at RMR. In fact the City negotiated what was essentially a non-compete arrangement with RMR so the ski hill tail would not be wagging the city dog. What’s the difference between then and now?
Please click here to read Geoff Battersby’s printed response as a PDF document.
2) It has been suggested that Council does not have a legitimate legal reason to oppose this zoning change. Do you agree?
Please click here to read Geoff Battersby’s printed response as a PDF document.
3) I’m willing to bet that the overwhelming majority of business owners voted for our current mayor and council because they were regarded as being pro-growth and pro-business. Well, now we have a developer who wants to build a strip mall on the highway. That is clearly fresh investment and new business growth. So what’s wrong with that picture?
Please click here to read Geoff Battersby’s printed response as a PDF document.
4) Why does this possible highway rezoning issue affect you so deeply?
Please click here to read Geoff Battersby’s printed response as a PDF document.
5) Revelstoke has a reputation as a community that pulls together to accomplish its goals and get things done. That does not seem to be happening here. In fact, this is arguably the most divisive public issue in at least 15 years. What do you think are the most realistic best case/worst case outcomes?
Can we get beyond the my-way-or–the-highway attitude that is taking shape? Is there any happy Made-in-Revelstoke solution on the horizon?
Please click here to read Geoff Battersby’s printed response as a PDF document.
