To the editor:
Re: appraisal of 18 hectares of Crown reserve/Crown land offered to Julian Kenney in swap for Rainbow (Heritage) Island, Bridge Lake.
Mr. Kenney bought Rainbow Island in 2007 for $615,000. The island was recently listed for sale on an online "Islands for Sale Registry" for $785,000.
In December 2008, Kevin Dickenson, regional executive director for the Integrated Land Management Bureau (ILMB) Southern Interior Region, stated that "ILMB determines land values for any land exchange and composes a terms of reference for appraisals contracted for our use.
"Any appraisal arranged by the proponent would be for his benefit and would not be used by the ILMB for setting values. Appraisal reports ordered and approved by ILMB are not available for public viewing until completion of all negotiations."
In a Feb. 6, 2011 email to the ILMB, which is now called the Ministry of Natural Resources Operations (MNRO), I asked: "Since negotiations are now completed, will you inform us immediately of the appraisal given for the 18 hectares?"
A Feb. 10, 2011 Friends of Bridge Lake (FBL) newsletter told us "The valuation of the land to be exchanged was determined under the assumption that the land was already approved for rezoning ... On the surface, it appears that a 45-acre mainland waterfront lot, with Lakeshore Residential zoning in place, should be worth far more than a 65-acre island with a Resource zoning."
In a March 1, 2011 FBL newsletter we were told, "Subject to the consent of the appraiser, the details of the appraisal will be made public."
My 72-foot-wide, 0.35 acre waterfront lot on Greenall Road was assessed in 2011 at $247,000. The 18 lots on Mr. Kenney's proposed development appear to be approximately two acres, and the waterfront lots are more than twice as wide as my lot.
Presumably an assessment on these lots should be considerably greater than mine.
Using an unrealistically low assessment of $250,000 per lot puts the assessed value of these 18 ha at $4.5 million.
Why has the MNRO agreed to swap an island worth $750,000 in exchange for 18 ha worth in excess of $5 million?
Ann Blades
Surrey/Bridge Lake
