By Times Chronicle Staff
Another non-farm use application in the Agricultural Land Reserve in rural Oliver is being considered.
On July 7, the regional district board authorized that the application for an outdoor food and beverage lounge proceed to the Agricultural Land Commission for decision.
The applicant is seeking approval to use two existing lounge areas which are 554.3 square metres combined. Under the regulation, such lounge areas are limited to a maximum area of 125 square metres.
The applicant stated the narrow strip of land is not suitable for farm (viticulture) use due to useability of space and the fact it is surrounded by structures.
The subject property is approximately 4.45 hectares in area and situated on the west side of Highway 97 in the 3000 block. It is currently under agricultural production and comprises a winery.
Regional planner Shannon Duong said neither the Official Community Plan nor zoning bylaws restricts the maximum floor area of lounges at a winery beyond the maximum parcel coverage allowance, which is 10 per cent. She noted the proposal does not exceed this allowance. She added that enhancing farm income opportunities through “value added” activities is important.
But Duong did say the outdoor tasting areas in this application are relatively large, however, she noted that only 186 square metres of the tasting area is considered to be a service area.
Duong said the proposal is “generally” consistent with the OCP bylaw, but the Commission should determine its suitability.
Chief Administrative Officer Bill Newell said the proposal complies with the region’s zoning bylaws, so staff have “no problem with it.”
