Controversial gravel pit not supported by City Council

After well over an hour of questions and comments from City Council members, a decision was reached in the application for a controversial gravel pit in an East Kelowna neighbourhood.

The motion to support the proposal from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) was defeated, with the vote ending in a tie.

Almost 100 people sat in on the open City Council meeting Monday, many there to silently protest the project.

The Application was put forth to City Hall on July 16, 2016 to remove 80,000 tonnes of sand and gravel from a property on Mathews Road in East Kelowna for the intention of putting in an apple orchard.

Residents in the neighbourhood voiced their concerns about the project, stating their concerns for “safety of our children, ourselves, protection of existing ground water flows and quality of water, health, environment, peace and continued enjoyment of our rural agricultural lifestyle without noise, dust, vibrations and destruction of existing road surfaces.”

Despite originally being told that a Public Consultation had been completed by the Agricultural Land Commission, it was revealed at Monday’s meeting that was not the case. No public consultation from ALC was ever executed.

“My concern is, if I was a neighbour or someone in the neighbourhood and this council is supposed to make a decision today, for reference for the ALC, the fact that the neighbours haven’t been consulted, I find that personally disturbing,” said Coun. Charlie Hodge.

The fact the public had not been notified was a concern shared by many councilors throughout the meeting.

“The public process is coming a little later in the process, if in fact it happens,” said Coun. Gail Given.

“The way it has all rolled out has created mistrust and a lot of the comments were based on information maybe the residents didn’t have.”

“We are not opposed to the Applicants desire to plant an orchard, however we are perplexed by his need to remove the large quantity of gavel,” said South East Kelowna resident, Joanne Tuttosi.

“This process in my opinion, it is completely flawed,” said Coun. Brad Sieben

“I feel for the residents of the area and I actually feel for the Applicant. This isn’t a city process. If it was a city process, it would happen much differently, with much more public consultation up front. I have a real problem with the process here. I won’t support this today.

Coun. Mohini Singh echoed Coun. Sieben’s opinion, saying it was the human factor that determined her decision.

“I would like to see apples grown there. But while we are dealing with land issues today, I’m looking at the human factor and for me, I just don’t think the public has had a chance to digest all the information. I would like to see public consultation take place.

When it was finally called to a vote, the decision ended in a tie, meaning the motion was defeated. Kelowna City Council said they will be sending their comments to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, who regulate gravel extraction.