Orchard eyed for development

Ron Seymour 2009-03-23 Kelowna Daily Courier:

An orchard on the southwest side of Dilworth Mountain could be opened up for residential development. Landowner Al Stober will ask today for city council‘s support in getting the 22-acre, crescent-shaped property excluded from the Agricultural Land Reserve. Members of the city‘s agricultural advisory committee are opposed to the application, saying the property is prime farmland. But city planners endorse the site‘s removal from the ALR, saying it would fulfill commitments made to the landowner when a right-of-way was acquired for the construction of Summit Drive in the late 1990s. The city‘s 1998 agricultural plan states in part: “Land to the south of the proposed extension of Summit Drive from Valley Road to Dilworth Mountain has been previously identified as future development land for the logical extension of the Golfview subdivision, with the new road forming the urban-rural boundary.” The city should continue to support Stober‘s planned development of the property as an act of good faith, the report to council states.

Despite the staff position, the city‘s agricultural advisory committee has recommended council not support the exclusion attempt. “(We) consider this large parcel ideal for farming, given its size, suitable soil conditions, and accessibility to consumers, which could facilitate on-site, farm retail sales,” commission members said in November. The proposed development would consist of 55 single-family homes, and two multi-family projects. The hillside property has sweeping views of the city with Okanagan Lake in the distance. Signs posted on the site referring to the possible project have sparked “numerous” calls of complaint to the city, planning staff say, with critics concerned about the loss of farmland as well as the potential for additional traffic in the area. Whether or not city council supports Stober‘s attempt to have the property excluded from the ALR, the final decision is up to the provincially-run Agricultural Land Commission.