This petition is against the proposed Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) exclusion and subdivision development of several properties along Valleyview Road and Pineview Road.

The proposal for Agricultural Land Reserve exclusion application, intends to carve up a significant portion of agricultural land for a higher density residential subdivision in the heart of Penticton's agricultural belt. 

There are two exclusion applications that are a part of the original proposal, and both are integrated into the current proposal for residential development, and have been extended multiple times in order to allow for certain contingencies to be met by 2022.  The original application, which commenced in 2005, includes all three properties at: 2900 Valleyview Road, 3050 Valleyroad and 610 Pineview Road - the most recent application, concentrating solely on 610 Pineview Road.  Both applications are active, and have been received, processed and passed by Penticton City Council.  The original application has been approved by the Agricultural Land Commission and the new application is still being reviewed by the ALC for residential development.

We, as a community, cannot let this happen.

The properties proposed for exclusion of ALR are already successful farms with viable farmable land, with orchards, vinyards, and a small Christmas tree farm.  It is absolutely vital that we, as a community and collective voice, speak out to protect and preserve the integrity of our soil and water systems, our locally integrated agricultural and horticultural programs, and our increasingly vulnerable ecosystems, many of which are situated in deeply historical and generational areas of our community, such as Valleyview Road.  These agricultural areas not only directly benefit our local economy and all of us today, as its people - but likewise, future generations in perpetuity.  Agriculture has been central to Penticton's economy and identity for many years, endeavouring to preserve the fundamental integrity of our environment, both locally and globally, while mitigating our carbon footprint. 

Penticton's Community Plan clearly states that, "Agricultural lands need long-term protection from development and/or degradation to sustain diverse farm and food producing enterprises. Agricultural lands – specifically those in the Agricultural Land Reserve on the Naramata Bench and in the Valleyview area, but also other Agriculture (A) zoned properties – are protected from non-agriculture development and are not intended to accommodate urban growth.”  In addition, our Community Plan also states that the goal for managing residential growth, is to "ensure that Penticton retains its compact ‘footprint’ to help protect natural areas and environmental values and agricultural lands, avoid excessive infrastructure costs and hazard lands, and help create conditions that support transit and active modes of transportation.”

Once farmland is gone, it is gone forever.

Please sign this petition today if you are in agreement of preserving our agriculture, our environment and our collective identity as citizens and inhabitants of Penticton and the South Okanagan.   By including your voice in this protest, you will make your concern our concern, and by proxy, our concern their concern - as we petition both the City of Penticton and the Agricultural Land Commission to NOT approve this application for exclusion and proposal for residential subdivision.  In opposition to the proposal for residential development within the Agricultural Land Reserve, this petition will be sent directly to the City of Penticton and the Agricultural Land Commission in protest of BOTH applications for exclusion.