Concerns over size, location, and community benefit led the Lake Country council to hit the brakes on a proposal for temporary farm worker housing.

Khela Orchards Ltd. had applied to place 79 sleeping units across 17 trailers on a 7.9-hectare property within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) at 12192 Oceola Road.

Councillor Todd McKenzie, who also sits on the district香蕉视频直播檚 Agricultural Advisory Committee香蕉视频直播攚hich did not support the application香蕉视频直播攙oiced concerns about the scale of the project.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e seen us do this a few times in other areas and it ends up being a bunch of trailers that are a little bit of an eyesore,香蕉视频直播� he said.

While the application meets agricultural zoning regulations香蕉视频直播攁llowing up to 10 sleeping units per hectare香蕉视频直播攕taff noted that Khela Orchards farms 43 hectares across Lake Country. Technically, they could apply for up to 430 units.

Still, most of council didn香蕉视频直播檛 see a clear benefit to the community.

香蕉视频直播淲hilst I appreciate the need for the foreign workers, I personally don香蕉视频直播檛 think it香蕉视频直播檚 a fantastic location for that many people,香蕉视频直播� said Mayor Blair Ireland, pointing out that Oceola is a busy road.

He also questioned the broader value of the operation.

香蕉视频直播淚t keeps some cherry orchards going in the area香蕉视频直播攖hat香蕉视频直播檚 great香蕉视频直播攂ut what does it bring to the community?香蕉视频直播�

Councillor Tricia Brett framed it as a matter of principle.

香蕉视频直播淢aybe our rules technically allow for it, but I don香蕉视频直播檛 think the spirit of our rules allow for it. I think the net benefit to our community is an issue.香蕉视频直播�

Councillor Michael Lewis supported the application.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 see a lot of negatives for me personally,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚 like the idea of supporting agriculture.香蕉视频直播�

Mayor Ireland added that local agricultural operations haven香蕉视频直播檛 backed similar applications in the past.

香蕉视频直播淣one of our rules are set up to support big industrial agriculture, and that香蕉视频直播檚 what we香蕉视频直播檙e trying to deal with here,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Staff also noted that Khela Orchards would be responsible for paying for services like sewer and water to the trailers. The farm already has its own irrigation system, drawing water from Wood Lake.

Council voted not to move the application forward at this time. 

Instead, they directed staff to work with the applicant to reduce the number of sleeping units and to develop a policy framework that could guide similar applications in the future.