Plans continue for RV park at ranch

By tyler olsenMorning Star Staff Jun 22 2007 http://www.vernonmorningstar.com/

Plans for an RV park at O’Keefe Ranch are still alive after Spallumcheen council agreed to forward the ranch’s non-farm use application to the Agricultural Land Commission. The board which oversees the ranch wants the RV park to help boost revenues for the cash-strapped attraction. But the Agricultural Land Commission must first approve plans to take land out of the Agricultural Land Reserve. And while several members of Spallumcheen council are usually loathe to see agricultural land developed, the ranch’s plea was greeted with a unanimous vote in favour of the RV park. “Assuming there’s money, this is going to go a long ways to keeping the ranch here – a long ways,” Coun. Dave Brew told council. Added Coun. Carolyn Farris: “I think there are some benefits, not just for the ranch but also for our goal of promoting agritourism.” Rod Drennan, chairman of the O’Keefe Ranch and Interior Heritage Society board, outlined a plan that would see an RV park constructed, with a gravel road accessing the site off of St. Annes Road. The first stage would cost $450,000 and include 50-lots plus servicing buildings. There are also plans to expand the park to 100-lots, although that proposal has not yet been formalized.

“We have looked at lots of options... to look for other revenue streams that are going to over time take O’Keefe Ranch off public subsidies,” said Drennan, who was the Township of Spallumcheen’s longtime administrator. He is promising to go before the land commission in person to explain the ranch’s need for the RV park. While Mayor Will Hansma supported the board’s application he added: “The question will be asked, not by me, but it will be asked, ‘With all the collective intelligence in the North Okanagan, why and how did we end up with the rationale that the only way we can make this ranch pay for itself is to turn viable agricultural land into an RV Park?’” He was less than pleased with the proposal and asked if there were other money-making options available that would utilise the farm land better. And he, and Coun. Ralph Leyenhorst, were skeptical if the $100,000 the RV would bring in is enough.
“It’s another fun project but at the end of the day, is it going to bring in enough revenue needed? I don’t think it is,” said Hansma on Wednesday. But Drennan said agricultural uses would require much more capital and that the returns were more uncertain.