There was a great deal of passion in the voices of the speakers who took the megaphone Tuesday and spoke during a protest by Naramata Bench farmers in front of Penticton City Hall.
The group has concerns regarding Vancouver-based developer Canadian Horizons, which has made a rezoning application to develop approximately 160 acres on the Naramata Bench.
David Kozier is a second-generation grape grower.
Kozier Organic Vineyard is located directly below the proposed development.
When Kozier spoke, it came from the heart, and he had everyone’s attention.
“My dad Len Kozier was a lifelong farmer, and one of his lessons to me was that we need to protect farmland – to protect the soil for future generations. I have many concerns about Canadian Horizons' proposal. Today I’ll focus on the impact on farming – the lifeblood of the Naramata Bench.”
According to Kozier, the Canadain Horizons property at 880 Naramata Rd. was a thriving orchard for decades on prime agricultural land. The current zoning is for agriculture.
“They have torn out all the fruit trees, and replaced them with hundreds and hundreds of dump truck loads of gravel. The disrespect for the land by Canadian Horizons is clearly visible to residents of Penticton and to tourists who see their thriving ‘weed’ farm. And the residents of Penticton are expected to trust them?”
Kozier told the crowd that if the project moves forward, he believes it will set a dangerous precedent and will lead to hundreds of homes along the Bench.
Kozier also believes there will be an impact to groundwater downhill from the development – which will cause flooding, erosion and saturated vineyards.
“While British Columbia has the Farm Practices Protection Act, also known as the right-to-farm, non-farm homeowners near farming activity are likely to be unaware of this legislation prior to purchasing a home, and are likely to complain,” offered Kozier. “Common complaints include manure and fish fertilizer are smelly, sprays and dust drift in the wind, tractors start early in the morning and are loud, wind machines and bird cannons are annoying, and, noise travels far in farm country.
“Clearly, an urban subdivision does not belong on the Naramata Bench.”
Kozier then pointed to what he called, “the good news”, Penticton’s Official Community Plan, which as he understands, gives policy protection to agricultural land, and has clearly defined development permit guidelines for hillside development.
“I quote from Penticton’s OCP. Agriculture has long been central to Penticton’s economy and identity. Agricultural lands need long-term protection from development, and/or degradation, to sustain diverse farm and food-producing enterprises,” he said. “Agricultural lands specifically in the ALR on the Naramata Bench in the Valleyview area, but also other agriculture-zone properties, are protected from non-agriculture development and are not intended to accommodate urban growth.”
“Thank goodness for this clear and strong language in Penticton’s Official Community Plan. Canadian Horizons wants to use the natural beauty of the Naramata Bench to line their pockets with cash. Then they will leave town, and Canada’s world-class agriculture, vineyards and tourism area won’t be so beautiful anymore. We ask that Penticton city council stays true to the land use’s goals and policies of our Official Community Plan.”
Kozier then finished with the following poem.
When developers came for the fertile soils of Richmond, I said, I am not a vegetable grower.
When developers came for the Fraser Valley pastures, I said, I am not a dairy man.
When BC Hydro came for the Peace River range, I said, I am not a rancher.
When developers came for the Naramata Bench, I said, I am a grape grower. I am a steward of the land.
“My family's livelihood, and that of many in Penticton, and that of our future generations, is tied to the natural beauty and the soil and hydrological stability of the Naramata Bench – and the protection of its lands from inappropriate development.”
And with that, David Kozier returned to his tractor, and made his way back to the Naramata Bench – where he feels most at home
