New Summerland council kills land swap proposal

SUMMERLAND, B.C. — It’s been a contentious issue in Summerland this past year and after much outcry, the town’s newly elected council has killed the controversial land swap proposal at the first council meeting Monday night. The proposal, which was adopted by the previous council, would’ve seen 80 hectares of farmland taken out of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), while 90 hectares of land from the Summerland hills area would have been added to the ALR instead.

In a 5-1 vote (councilor Erin Carlson did not vote because her family’s property would’ve been affected), council has decided to withdraw its application to taken land out of the ALR.

In a 6-1 vote (council Carlson was able to vote), council has also decided to withdraw its application to add land into the ALR.

Councilor Janet Peake voted against the both motions.

Mayor Peter Waterman says this move pivotal for the town.

“It means the community will be heading in a direction that they actually expressed they want to go, which is to retain the urban-rural aesthetics of Summerland,” says Waterman.

The land swap proposal was part of the town’s Official Community Plan.

Council voted unanimously to revisit the plan.

Public workshops will be held in the new year to find out how residents want to stimulate growth.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: SUMMERLAND, B.C. — It's been a contentious issue in Summerland this past year and after much outcry, the town's newly elected council has killed the controversial land swap proposal at the first council meeting <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">Monday</span></span> night. The proposal, which was adopted by the previous council, would've seen 80 hectares of farmland taken out of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), while 90 hectares of land from the Summerland hills area would have been added to the ALR instead.</p><p>In a 5-1 vote (councilor Erin Carlson did not vote because her family's property would've been affected), council has decided to withdraw its application to taken land out of the ALR.</p><p>In a 6-1 vote (council Carlson was able to vote), council has also decided to withdraw its application to add land into the ALR.</p><p>Councilor Janet Peake voted against the both motions.</p><p>Mayor Peter Waterman says this move pivotal for the town.</p><p>"It means the community will be heading in a direction that they actually expressed they want to go, which is to retain the urban-rural aesthetics of Summerland," says Waterman.</p><p>The land swap proposal was part of the town's Official Community Plan.</p><p>Council voted unanimously to revisit the plan.</p><p>Public workshops will be held in the new year to find out how residents want to stimulate growth.