Industrial park moves ahead

By Tyler Olsen - Vernon Morning Star Published: September 19, 2008

The North Okanagan’s depleted stock of industrial land may be about to get a much needed infusion. A 30-unit light industrial park just north of the Swan Lake interchange will go to public hearing after Spallumcheen council passed the first two readings of a rezoning bylaw Monday. The 45-hectare (112-acre) parcel would significantly boost the options available to businesses considering moving to the area. “If everything continues to look the way it is now, it’s going to be a real benefit, not just for Spallumcheen, but for the North Okanagan,” said Spallumcheen Mayor Will Hansma. “We’re lacking in industrial land – we really don’t have much and some of the area we have in the North Okanagan isn’t close to the City of Vernon.” Hansma, who has sounded the alarm in recent years about the township’s stagnant tax base, also hopes the industrial park will provide much-needed revenue. “It’s going to augment our tax base, but also, in an industrial park like that, the jobs that are created are living-wage standard.” Should the project proceed, Spallumcheen council would also ask that builders conform to the province’s green building code as well as take certain principles into consideration. Council would need to grant a development permit to those building on the industrial park. Hansma said the aim was to have “as environmentally friendly as you can have an industrial park.”With the park proposed to be located on a slope, he said it is vital that septic and water issues be dealt with in an environmentally friendly manner.

“We wanted to take a lead role on trying to make sure they recognize the environmentally sensitive area they are in,” said Hansma. “We’ll scrutinize the development permit application and there will be certain criteria we will be applying to the development.” The developer of the industrial park, P.V. Estates, will need to return to council and confirm that proposed water and sewer servicing will be able to meet the demands of the development and that the industrial park would not be susceptible to flooding. Once completed, a public hearing will be scheduled at which Hansma hopes to hear the views of residents. “Hopefully we haven’t missed anything and I’m looking forward to hearing what the public thinks we may, or may not, have missed,” said Hansma.