Cannabis facility sign of changing agricultural land use in South Okanagan

PENTICTON – Agricultural use of land isn’t what it used to be.

That from Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen West Bench director Michael Brydon during board discussions involving a variance on a Secrest Hill Road property for a medical marjiuana grow facility north of Oliver at yesterday’s regular board meeting, June 22.

Board members were discussing the pros and cons of the proposal and others like it, with Brydon responding to comments about possible future cannabis overproduction and a cannabis facility’s effect on agricultural land.

He said there were potentially many agricultural uses for the proposed 12,000 square metre building should cannabis operations fail in the future, such as strawberry production.

“We don’t have to go to doomsday scenarios,” he said, but added he would have liked to have seen this proposal go somewhere else.

“We have allowed medical cannabis as an agricultural use and as a result we’re finding agriculture isn’t necessarily nice to look at,” he said in response to neighbour's complaints about the rural landscape being ruined.

“It’s evolving,” Brydon said of the Okanagan’s agricultural industry.

The director’s arguments over this particular proposal were largely moot, as the proponents made it clear they could fall back on a permitted option of housing the facility in a much larger (44,600 square metre) greenhouse should the variance application fail.

The board agreed to approve the variance, Area “D” director Tom Siddon and Area “G” director Elef Christensen opposed.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

Steve Arstad's Stories

Articles: 14