The regional district Planning and Development Committee voted to allow the Penticton Radio Control Club to continue operating their Eastside Road track until April 30, 2013.
The club ran awry of the regional district in May of 2011 after the regional district received a complaint regarding construction taking place on the property without proper permitting.
The PRCC had developed a race track and viewing platform on the Eastside Road property.
An inspection by regional district staff concluded that safety issues related to the public use of a shipping container on site that was being used for viewing purposes and the potential disruption a race track might have on the neighbourhood needed to be addressed, and a notice of violation was issued to the club.
Over the past year, the regional district was unable to bring the PRCC into compliance, in spite of several communications between the RDOS and the club.
At one point, the RDOS was working with the club to find an alternative site. Locations on the Penticton Indian Reserve, on Carmi Road near the Penticton Speedway and a request to Kaleden Irrigation District to use KID property were all considered before being rejected by the PRCC.
Recently the car club submitted two petitions endorsing their activity at the Eastside Road location.
In their report to the directors, staff described the PRCC operations as being a fun family activity to which neighbours did not object. The report described the club as having options, including applying for a temporary use permit.
Allowing the public onto the site while an illegal use was being undertaken put the regional district at risk of being legally liable, argued staff, who recommended that enforcement action be curtailed until April 30, 2013, in order to assist the club in bringing their operation into compliance, or relocate. If the track is not moved or brought into compliance by the above date, enforcement action will be initiated.
The committee voted in favour of the recommendation.