Council to subdivide ALR parcel

SUMMERLAND — Summerland council unanimously voted this week to support an application to the agricultural land commission to subdivide a large parcel of agricultural reserve land in Garnet Valley.

If approved by the ALC, an 8.0 hectare lot will be created by severing the property, known as Garnet Valley Ranch and owned by Okanagan Crush Pad, seven kilometres from Summerland.

The land is currently being used as a vineyard by OCP with a small portion leased to Thomas Tumbach of LocalMotive Organic Delivery which distributes produce primarily to the Lower Mainland with the balance going to the Okanagan and Alberta.

“The property owners are proposing to subdivide to create a separate title that will allow a jointly owned new company to finance the design, construction, servicing, equipping and start-up costs of a proper storage and greenhouse facility for produce,” director of development services Dean Strachan told council.

“OCP and LocalMotive are two separate companies with separate and non-overlapping ownership. But together they see mutual benefits in working collaboratively to increase the value of production coming off of GVR,” OCP director Steve Lornie wrote to council.

The new on-site storage and greenhouse facility is anticipated to add a yearly value of between $500,000 and $750,000 to the agricultural production coming off of the GVR site and to create employment opportunities for six to eight people.

“This is a smart way to support local agriculture,” Coun. Erin Carlson said.