Members of Kelownasa国际传媒檚 Sikh community packed council chambers on April 24 in support of a proposal to rezone agricultural land to make way for a religious facility.

Gurdwara Guru Amardas Darbar Sikh Society wants to rezone property at 2809 Benvoulin Road at Munson Road to build a new temple. The plan is for a 25,133 square foot, two-and-a-half-storey building with parking and landscaping, and primary access from Boyd Road.

Although not within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), the property is designated and zoned for agriculture and directly borders ALR land.

A staff report states that Official Community Plan (OCP) policies specifically discourage public or private institutional use including places of religious assembly on agricultural lands.

Staff recommended against the rezoning.

sa国际传媒淢y objective is to convince you to send this land use change to a public hearing,sa国际传媒� said Birte Decloux with Urban Options Planning, speaking on behalf of the applicant.

sa国际传媒淚t is a central location and connected to agriculture, which is important to the congregation as many of them are stewards of the land.sa国际传媒�

Coun. Mohini Singh noted that the issue is certainly emotional for the society and the community.

sa国际传媒淭his congregation farms over 2,000 acres of land in the Central Okanagan and they are in dire need of a new facility,sa国际传媒� she added. sa国际传媒淚 urge my colleagues to move this to a public hearing.sa国际传媒�

Coun. Luke Stack said while he is supportive of expanding worship opportunities, he could not support the proposal.

sa国际传媒淲here Isa国际传媒檓 coming from on this particular one is our permanent growth boundary,sa国际传媒� said Stack, who noted there are specific goals laid out in the OCP.

sa国际传媒淭hose goals were to protect our farmland and in the Benvoulin area particularly. We are comprising our decision to hold the line on the permanent growth boundary.sa国际传媒�

Society member Aman Hundael told Capital News that he was encouraged by councilsa国际传媒檚 support.

sa国际传媒淲e also want to work with the neighbours,sa国际传媒� said. sa国际传媒淭he neighbours have raised a lot of valid points and if we get approved wesa国际传媒檙e going to be in that community a long time with them, I think itsa国际传媒檚 important we have a balanced view and listen to all sides.sa国际传媒�

Council voted to send the rezoning to a public hearing, after first reading, with Coun. Stack opposed.

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gary.barnes@kelownacapnews.com
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