Door closes on applications for RV parks on Kelowna’s agricultural land

RV PARKS ON FARMS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF INFRACTIONS FOR BYLAW OFFICERS

KELOWNA – The city has shut the door on new agri-tourism accommodation applications, at least until it the province clarifies its own policy and regulations.

Kelowna councillors voted Monday morning, July 11, to immediately stop accepting new applications, which come largely from agricultural land owners seeking to open up RV sites on their land.

Rural planning manager Todd Cashin told councillors staff are working on an amendment to the zoning bylaw which would disallow further development of tourist accommodation on agricultural land.

Kelowna has 16 RV parks on farmland, many of which have become a constant source of infractions for bylaw enforcement officers. The current zoning bylaw does not allow for stays longer than 30 days and for the RV park to operate only in season.

Cashin said applications already in the queue will be grandfathered in under the old bylaw.

Owners of agricultural land will still be able to apply to provide tourism accommodation, which is allowed as a non-farm use by the Agricultural Land Commission, but must ask council for a variance which staff will recommend against, Cashin said.

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