The owners of Deep Creek's Foxtrot Dairy have taken another step towards building up their business as an agritourism destination.  

 Joy and Kevin de Vos run Foxtrot Dairy on the family farm property at 16 Deep Creek Road. Last December, the couple opened a store there, with a vision of opening the farm up to the public as an educational experience. That experience would include a 10-lot campground for guests who take part in a tour of the dairy. 

To accommodate the campground, the couple have submitted an application to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District for a temporary use permit (TUP), which is on the agenda for the board's April 17 meeting. 

"The applicant is proposing an agri-tourism business on the subject property with the intent of providing guests an opportunity to experience a Canadian dairy farm and to reconnect with agriculture," reads a staff report to the board. "

Staff report the applicant's proposal includes accommodation providing a "glamping" style campground, while also offering farm tours and agricultural experiences, with 10 campsites  with the possibility of 6-8 "glamping structures with beds accommodating 2-6 guests.  

"Sites will be available to RVs and tents in the interim until the 6-8 glamping structures are installed," reads the report. Also in the proposal is a shower house, a wash station for dishes and clean potable water.  The campsites will be located next to a dairy cow and heifer pasture, with fencing permitting the "heifers, dry dairy cows, and horses to walk along the perimeter of the campsites on one side."

While agritourism is supported in the Deep Creek/Ranchero official community plan and zoning, the definition of agritourism in the zoning bylaw "explicitly excludes accommodation, so it must be permitted by TUP or rezoning." 

Staff noted the proposed use is permitted by the Agricultural Land Commission, and the TUP will "provide an opportunity for the owners and the CSRD to try the proposed use prior to a permanent rezoning being considered."

CSRD staff are recommending approval of the application, with conditions requiring the applicant have minimum liability insurance coverage in the amount of $3 million, and register a covenant on title indemnifying the regional district "for any damages arising from or relating to issuance the of the Temporary Use Permit."

The board meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. in the CSRD boardroom.