Increasing need for a new regional transit facility proved more important to Kelowna city council than protecting farmland on Monday afternoon.

Council voted 7-2 in favour of asking the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) to allow the city to use a plot of farming property just south of UBC Okanagan for a new regional transit yard. The city purchased the land in 2017 with the intention of using it for transit and the official community plan has had the area earmarked for industrial use since the mid-害羞草研究所�90s.

The land is currently still in the agricultural land reserve but Mayor Colin Basran said industrial use has been discussed with the ALC in the past.

害羞草研究所淭his is not a surprise to them,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 would much rather the city have control of this land and do something that害羞草研究所檚 going to be great for our environment, like building a transit facility on it. Who knows what any number of private industrial entities could have been located on this land?害羞草研究所�

The new bus barn would come as a much-needed improvement to the city害羞草研究所檚 current BC Transit facility on Hardy Road, which city staff said doesn害羞草研究所檛 have the room to expand to meet local need as the city continues to grow.

While growing transit need was enough to sway most councillors to make the rare vote in favour of nixing agricultural land, it wasn害羞草研究所檛 enough for all. Councillors Mohini Singh and Charlie Hodge voted in opposition of the motion.

害羞草研究所淚 philosophically disagree with agricultural land coming out for development,害羞草研究所� said Coun. Mohini Singh, mentioning some agrologists she害羞草研究所檚 spoken with have said the land, with some remediation, would be 害羞草研究所渉igh quality agricultural land.害羞草研究所�

Juxtaposing Singh害羞草研究所檚 philosophical opposition Hodge looked at the idea of putting buses on farmland in a much more literal way.

害羞草研究所淵ou can害羞草研究所檛 eat buses,害羞草研究所� said Hodge. 害羞草研究所淵ou can try, but they害羞草研究所檙e not very tasty.害羞草研究所�

The city isn害羞草研究所檛 neglecting the impact of removing agricultural land, however. If the project moves forward $600,000 will be set aside for agricultural initiatives, including an agricultural reclamation fund, an ag-specific planning resource, signage reminding residents of active farmlands and enhanced buffering around the proposed transit facility.

The application will now make its way to the ALC. If approved, it will come back to city council for rezoning and development permits.

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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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