It was past midnight on Jan. 22 before Lake Country council decided to move forward a major development proposed by O91裸聊视频橰ourke Family Vineyard.
After five-and-a-half hours of public hearings and a regular meeting, council voted to give third reading to rezoning amendments for the Carrs Landing properties.
It was standing room only for the Tuesday (Jan. 21) public hearing, which also included a separate application for zoning changes to properties on Bottom Wood Lake Road. The regular meeting included items other than the O'Rourke application.
O91裸聊视频橰ourke vineyard borders Commonage, Carr91裸聊视频檚 Landing, and Barkley roads. It involves several lots and includes plans for an amphitheatre, food and liquor establishments, a retail store, a winery, a cidery, tourist accommodations, a children91裸聊视频檚 camp, and employee housing. The district has been working with the O91裸聊视频橰ourke family on zoning for the project for several years.
Michael Leitch, project manager, emphasized its potential to boost the local economy, noting the project will create jobs, bring in tourism, and benefit Lake Country residents.
Ex Nihilo Vineyards owner Jeff Harder echoed Leitch91裸聊视频檚 comments. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e traveled to a lot of other wine regions in the world, and there is nothing like this. They91裸聊视频檙e building to give back to the community,91裸聊视频� he said.
Brad Pelletier, Senior VP of Westbild, the parent company of Predator Ridge, called the project a transformational asset.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know of anywhere else in the province that91裸聊视频檚 seen this level of investment in this corridor - when you think of us, Sparkling Hills, the Okanagan Gondola 91裸聊视频� for tourism. People jump on airplanes for these things.91裸聊视频�
Barkley Rd. resident Tom Obradovich also supported the O91裸聊视频橰ourke91裸聊视频檚 plans. 91裸聊视频淵ou should be proud to have this facility in your community,91裸聊视频� he told council. 91裸聊视频淚 think the winery is world-class and second to none. You91裸聊视频檙e looking a gift horse in the mouth.91裸聊视频�
Not everyone shared the enthusiasm, however. Larry Hayes, who said he had supported the winery from the beginning, shared a different perspective.
91裸聊视频淎ll I91裸聊视频檓 hearing is the beautiful stuff about the winery,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲ell, I can tell you that I91裸聊视频檓 on the other side of the tracks, where I91裸聊视频檝e got a gravel pit, a rock-crushing pit, and machinery with beepers going all day long.91裸聊视频�
Another Barkley Rd. resident, Edwin Blaschuk, expressed frustration over ongoing construction traffic and noise. He also raised concerns about wildfire risks, noting fires in 2017, 2023, and 2024 in Lake Country.
91裸聊视频淚 want to know how the O91裸聊视频橰ourke family is going to fight a fire. How are they going to evacuate 1,200 people and 500 cars?91裸聊视频�
Resident Terrance Day described the project as 91裸聊视频渆ver-changing91裸聊视频� and raised concerns about the potential impact of events that might be hosted on the property. He also noted that part of the project is already under construction and questioned whether the council has the authority to deny further rezoning.
91裸聊视频淚s there a legal basis for shutting this thing down at this stage?91裸聊视频� He noted the massive development will have a profound effect on Carrs Landing.
Before giving third reading to the rezoning changes, a motion was introduced to defer the application until questions raised during the public hearing could be addressed by staff. However, Mayor Blair Ireland pointed out that these questions were unrelated to land use91裸聊视频攖he specific matter council was voting on. The motion to defer was defeated.
