Âé¶čAV council voted unanimously to rezone agricultural land in the north end of the city for a new regional transit facility, but it did not happen without some debate.
The city submitted an application to the Agricultural Land Commission to remove 40 acres of land, just south of UBC Okanagan (4690 Highway 97), from the Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR) in 2021. It was approved by the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) in 2022.
The property was purchased by the city in 2017 with the intent to use it for a transit facility near the roundabout at John Hindle Drive and Highway 97.
Councillors Mohini Singh and Charlie Hodge opposed the application when it was before council in 2021.
âThat was then, this is now,â Singh said at councilâs Oct. 7 meeting. âCouncil in its wisdom approved of this coming out even though we both spoke passionately against it.â
Sometimes itâs just time to move on, she added.
Hodge noted that while the ALR must be preserved, the transit facility is also needed.
âWe canât afford to lose any more ALR land, I wanted to make a point of that. If that means as suggested that in future any ALR land that is shifted is somehow compensated, that we find a way to replace it," claimed Hodge.
Coun. Ron Cannan pointed out that protecting agricultural land is a city priority.
âIâm torn on it,â he said. âBut I will support this because I think the land commission is ultimately the highest authority on this.â
Coun. Gord Lovegrove argued that the key is protecting active ALR land.
âIâve always been pushing as part of our agricultural priority that we increase the acres of active and no net loss to our active (ALR).â
The new transit facility will replace the Hardy Street bus yard which was built 1998 and designed to support 70 buses. It currently houses 109 vehicles.
Itâs expected the new facility will cost more than $100 million.
