19
number of endangered and at risk species robbed of their natural habitat
1000's
estimated number of vehicles added to Naramata Road
736
number of acres of forestry/grazing & agricultural land that could be lost forever
Join Us to Preserve The Hillsides of the Naramata Bench
​
On Monday, June 3, 2024, a public hearing was held with Mayor and Council at City Hall Penticton.
​
There was a tremendous turnout of the public and over 40 people spoke to council. 39 of the speakers were in favour of removing Spiller Road Area as a growth area and having lot sizes remain at 1 hectare, regardless of municipal water connections. Even better, the public wanted to leave the current zoning as is regardless of Future Land Use designations. This would mean the zoning would remain as 16 hectare minimum for Forestry Land and 2 hectare minimum for the City of Penticton Agricultural Land and zoning changes would be very difficult go forward.
​
The majority of Council voted in favour of removing the Spiller Rd. area as a "growth area" and to change the "medium density land use" to "Rural Residential". Helena Konanz wanted the land to remain as a growth area and did not seem to understand the difference between 1 hectare and 1 acre. She wanted to keep the land high densisty development.
​
The second vote ended in a 3-3 tie which is a failed vote. This meant that the staff recommended land use be instated changing Rural Residential zoning to .4 hectares or 1 acre if connected to municipal water (which much of the east side of Naramata Road is already connected to municipal water). Councilor Miller, Graham and Watt voted for Rural Residential to be 1 hectare or 2.47 acres. Councilor Gilbert, Konanz and Mayor Bloomfield voted for the .4 or 1 acre smaller lot sizes. Remember Gilbert, Konanz and Bloomfield because they voted against the community's wishes and they will be responsible when the Naramata Bench is developed in a negative way in years to come.
​
Small lot sizes in the Rural Residential designation (.4 ha's or 1 acre) will allow for 100’s of homes on the east side of Naramata Road. It will destroy agricultural and forestry land, and ultimately, the rural beauty of this area. It will impact tourism, and make Naramata Road dangerous. It will decimate the species already at risk that live on these steep hillsides, including the 250 member Elk herd and the Bighorn Sheep. It will allow blasting of the rock hillsides, create erosion in the farms below, and destroy grasslands needed for wildlife. It will mean another 300-400 acres of land can potentially be developed.
​
This letters to the editor below sums it up well. Unfortunately, the feedback given to the media was wrong. The fight isn't over, and the public are not satisfied.
https://www.castanet.net/news/Letters/490957/Sneaky-way-to-develop
​
​
​
​
In the summer of 2023, City Council identified the provision of attainable and accessible housing across the entire housing spectrum as a priority. A Task Force on Housing was created to review the policies of the Official Community Plan (OCP) and recommend updates to deliver on this priority.
Big changes are being mandated by the province, and recommendations from Penticton Council’s OCP Task Force. Penticton’s Official Community Plan and zoning bylaws will be updated. There will be NO MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS if zoning is adhered to.
​
The OCP Task Force recommended in December, 2023 to Council that “Spiller Road” be removed as a “growth area” and that the zoning be kept “Rural Residential with large lot sizes”. Unfortunately, the city has moved forward with 0.4 minimum hectare lot sizes unless the development is connected to water. This will mean 100's of homes along the steep hillsides on east side of the Naramata Bench.
​
If the community does not support removal of Spiller Rd as a growth area in shapeyourcity, this Task Force recommendation may be overturned. The reality is, even the developer doesn't want this land use.
​
The Society for Preservation of the Naramata Bench has asked for a minimum of one hectare lot sizes in our rural area along the Naramata Bench hillsides, regardless of septic or water connections. This will help prevent clearcutting and removal of thousands of trees, home to more species at risk than anywhere in Canada. That includes the Greyback Elk herd, the last herd in the Okanagan.​
​​​​​
The Society for Preservation of the Naramata Bench has been lobbying for the following changes in our rural community:
1. Update the zoning by-law for Country Residential to align with Rural Residential minimum lot size of a minimum of 1 hectare or 2.47 acres;
2. Remove the Spiller area as a growth area from the Penticton OCP;
2. Ensure the landfill setback is 500 metres at 1050 Spiller Road;
3. Ensure an adequate wildlife habitat for the Greyback Elk herd;
4. Protect all Environmentally Sensitive Areas 1 & 2 along the Naramata Bench;
5. Discourage clearcuts and blasting on our hillsides;
6. Protect species at risk that are found no where else in the world;
7. Consider preserving the hillsides in conservation trusts and establishing protected corridors.
Reach out to public officials and support us:
Contact Mayor and Council
council@penticton.ca
Official Community Plan Task Force
committees@penticton.ca
Contact RDOS Director Area E
Adrienne Fedrigo
afedrigo@rdos.bc.ca
Send letters to the editor, express your concerns:
mynaramata@shaw.ca
editor@pentictonwesternnews.com
letters@pentictonherald.ca
letters@castanet.net
​
Health Concerns
People who live close to municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills are exposed to air pollutants emitted by the landfill, gases containing methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and other contaminants including volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and bioaresols. There is also an unhealthy risk of exposure to contaminated soil and water. Cancer, respiratory disease and acute respiratory infections among children may result from long term exposure. This site boundary has been proposed at a mere 300m from Penticton's Campbell Mountain Landfill. The property is exposed and susceptible to the smell of the dump, the garbage that blows onto the site and is close enough that the sounds of landfill trucks working can be heard from the proposed lots. For these and other health related issues it is the job of smart planning to discourage developments in such close proximity to landfill sites.
Environmental Concerns
The wilderness above the Naramata Bench has tremendous value for wildlife including amphibians, reptiles, mammals and many bird species at risk. The subject property serves as a vital nesting ground and migratory route for several species of birds. The site is an extremely sensitive environmental area (ESA), most is ESA 2 or even ESA 1. It is a migratory route and winter feeding ground for the last herd of Elk in the Okanagan (Video of Elk on Naramata Bench), and for species protected like the Northern Flicker, Lewis’s woodpecker, badgers, and more. In the Okanagan, because of the population density in the valley bottoms and encroachment into the bench-lands and slopes, this development will hasten the extinction of some of the already threatened species. Given the abundance of wildlife and the sensitivity of species, it’s clearly evident that this development promises to be the tipping point for many of those species on the list.
Community Economics
Promises have been made from the developer regarding "affordable housing", 2000 jobs and tens of millions of dollars going back into the local economy. We are told that the tax base will increase, when in fact taxes will merely go up. As with all new urban sprawl, the costs to service more distant subdivisions will be subsidized by existing taxpayers in other urban areas of the city. We have been asking questions and are discovering what this development really means for the economy in our community and it's long term sustainability. Urban sprawl on the hillsides will destroy our brand as a city in a natural setting. Once the process of developing the hillsides is started it will continue, and we'll lose the very thing that continues to bring tourists here - the beauty of our natural setting. We want to ensure that the community knows the truth about how this densification will impact the Naramata Bench and ultimately the City of Penticton. And it's not pretty. Environmentally, economically and socially this proposed development will have a net-negative impact on the region.
​
​
What You Should Know
.jpg)
Agricultural Concerns
The Naramata Bench is noted for its diverse agricultural production. In fact, agriculture and agri-tourism are the essence of the Naramata Bench. Together they contribute approximately $170 million annually to the local and Provincial economies. Any potential development, either within the current agricultural lands or on the hillsides overlooking the Naramata Bench, could detrimentally affect the watershed that feeds the valley and consequently the area's economic contribution. The agri-food industry is a vital, interdependent component of our economy. A land base protected for agriculture provides opportunities for the expansion of farming and ranching for a growing population. Agriculture should be a foundational element in our future economic growth and development prospects. That perspective needs to be supported by both industry and politicians looking to our future well-being.
Tourism Values
The Naramata Bench has world class tourism assets. It has gained recognition regionally, nationally and internationally and the number of tourists is growing every year with expanding tourism opportunities for the future.
The Naramata Bench is also garnering worldwide recognition as one of Canada’s premiere wine regions and as a top destination for wine enthusiasts.
The favourable climate and geological conditions that are optimal for growing grapes on the Naramata Bench are also favourable for people and serve to create a fantastic location to vacation.
Visitors rave about the stunning setting of the Naramata Bench, a multitude of wineries; exceptional restaurants and a variety of accommodation nestled within verdant vineyards with shimmering lake and mountain views.
Such is the magic of the region, a scarce and notable jewel in the South Okanagan that needs to be preserved for future generations.
Sustainability
We have to ensure our lands are preserved or developed in a responsible way for future generations to enjoy. In the Napa Valley, 50 years of agricultural preservation led to a World-renowned Wine Region providing an annual economic benefit of more than $9.4 billion locally and nearly $34 billion nationally. The Naramata Bench contributes approximately $170 million to the local economies and has often been compared to Napa. With the same careful forethought for the preservation of the surrounding area we can preserve this unique terroir for future generations. Land conservancies preserve land for future generations, protect our food and water supply, purify our air, provide wildlife habitat, and strengthen our communities. In addition to health and food benefits, conserving land increases property values near greenbelts, saves tax dollars by encouraging more efficient development, and reduces the need for expensive water filtration facilities. Study after study has demonstrated the tremendous economic benefits of land conservation.
​
​
Write your concerns in a letter to the media
Contact your mayor/councilors - council@penticton.ca
Pass the information along to neighbours and friends
Become a member or donate to our cause
​
We are strong when we come together as a community
​
​
What can you do?
To the best of our knowledge and belief, content in this web-site is based on information made available to the public as of April 22, 2025. It is our intent to update this content as more current information becomes available. Maps and information provided on this website are intended for general information only. We make no representation regarding the accuracy or completeness of the content of our website and we assume no responsibility for damage or loss from use of any of the information provided herein.