Proposed farmhand dorm would accommodate 140
A housing complex for 140 farmhands would be constructed outside the Agricultural Land Reserve, council heard Monday.be taking up any productive farmland The location of the proposed dormitory means it won’t on the property, between Shanks Road and Highway 97 North, owned by Coral Beach Farms.
“This project does not infringe on ALR land,” Coun. Mohini Singh said as council agreed to forward the housing proposal to a public hearing.
It was clarified at council that the housing complex, if ultimately approved, could be used only by farmhands.
Farm owners David and Laura Geen had suggested the complex might be rented to university students and other members of the community outside the agricultural season.
Such non-farm-related rentals would not be allowed, city staffer Ryan Smith told council. Mayor Colin Basran was glad for the clarification, saying he found it “shocking” the Geens might have intended to rent the housing units to people not connected to the farm.
Some nearby property owners are expected to raise concerns about the housing complex when it is considered at the public hearing, council heard.
As well as using a small part of the property for farmhand housing, the Geens intend to build a major new cherry processing plant on the site.
Based in Lake Country, Coral Beach Farms is expanding rapidly and expects to oversee more than 445 hectares of cherries by 2020.