It was past midnight on Jan. 22 before Lake Country council decided to move forward a major development proposed by O香蕉视频直播橰ourke Family Vineyard.
After five-and-a-half hours of public hearings and a regular meeting, council voted to give third reading to rezoning amendments for the Carrs Landing properties.
It was standing room only for the Tuesday (Jan. 21) public hearing, which also included a separate application for zoning changes to properties on Bottom Wood Lake Road. The regular meeting included items other than the O'Rourke application.
O香蕉视频直播橰ourke vineyard borders Commonage, Carr香蕉视频直播檚 Landing, and Barkley roads. It involves several lots and includes plans for an amphitheatre, food and liquor establishments, a retail store, a winery, a cidery, tourist accommodations, a children香蕉视频直播檚 camp, and employee housing. The district has been working with the O香蕉视频直播橰ourke family on zoning for the project for several years.
Michael Leitch, project manager, emphasized its potential to boost the local economy, noting the project will create jobs, bring in tourism, and benefit Lake Country residents.
Ex Nihilo Vineyards owner Jeff Harder echoed Leitch香蕉视频直播檚 comments. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e traveled to a lot of other wine regions in the world, and there is nothing like this. They香蕉视频直播檙e building to give back to the community,香蕉视频直播� he said.
Brad Pelletier, Senior VP of Westbild, the parent company of Predator Ridge, called the project a transformational asset.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know of anywhere else in the province that香蕉视频直播檚 seen this level of investment in this corridor - when you think of us, Sparkling Hills, the Okanagan Gondola 香蕉视频直播� for tourism. People jump on airplanes for these things.香蕉视频直播�
Barkley Rd. resident Tom Obradovich also supported the O香蕉视频直播橰ourke香蕉视频直播檚 plans. 香蕉视频直播淵ou should be proud to have this facility in your community,香蕉视频直播� he told council. 香蕉视频直播淚 think the winery is world-class and second to none. You香蕉视频直播檙e looking a gift horse in the mouth.香蕉视频直播�
Not everyone shared the enthusiasm, however. Larry Hayes, who said he had supported the winery from the beginning, shared a different perspective.
香蕉视频直播淎ll I香蕉视频直播檓 hearing is the beautiful stuff about the winery,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲ell, I can tell you that I香蕉视频直播檓 on the other side of the tracks, where I香蕉视频直播檝e got a gravel pit, a rock-crushing pit, and machinery with beepers going all day long.香蕉视频直播�
Another Barkley Rd. resident, Edwin Blaschuk, expressed frustration over ongoing construction traffic and noise. He also raised concerns about wildfire risks, noting fires in 2017, 2023, and 2024 in Lake Country.
香蕉视频直播淚 want to know how the O香蕉视频直播橰ourke family is going to fight a fire. How are they going to evacuate 1,200 people and 500 cars?香蕉视频直播�
Resident Terrance Day described the project as 香蕉视频直播渆ver-changing香蕉视频直播� and raised concerns about the potential impact of events that might be hosted on the property. He also noted that part of the project is already under construction and questioned whether the council has the authority to deny further rezoning.
香蕉视频直播淚s there a legal basis for shutting this thing down at this stage?香蕉视频直播� He noted the massive development will have a profound effect on Carrs Landing.
Before giving third reading to the rezoning changes during the regular meeting, a motion was introduced to defer the application until questions raised during the public hearing could be addressed by staff. However, Mayor Blair Ireland pointed out that these questions were unrelated to land use香蕉视频直播攖he specific matter council was voting on. The motion to defer was defeated.
