Dear editor:
Most are unaware of what the City of Penticton and the RDOS have been plotting. The RDOS bought 80 acres of farmland at 1313 Greyback Mountain Road for a composting and biosolids facility. They applied to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) to remove 55 acres from the ALR. The ALC denied the application, the RDOS appealed and the ALC denied the appeal.
After this failure, the COP and the RDOS came up with a new plan; why not rezone the non-ALR part (25 acres). It is zoned Resource Area but Resource Area Site Specific would get them what they want.
On Sept. 26, 2023, the RDOS announced a public meeting for Oct 4, for the “construction of an organics composting facility at 1313 Greyback Mountain Road, adjacent to the Campbell Mountain Landfill (CMLF). The RDOS is seeking to rezone the property in order to permit the construction of an organics composting facility at the site.
If permitted, this rezoning would allow a composting operation in Phase 1 and biosolids (sewage sludge) facility in Phase 2 on the ALC land. As of this printing, the RDOS has not submitted an application to the ALC.
There is nothing “sustainable” about spreading biosolids on land where we grow food. In addition to some nutrients, this contaminated mixture contains persistent pollutants that accumulate in soil until the land can no longer grow most crops. The worst thing about Phase 1 is that it will lead to Phase 2.
Both scenarios would vastly increase trucking through Penticton (school zones and playgrounds included), along Upper Bench Road or Vancouver Ave. and up Reservoir Road, the latter of which is already remarkably busy (lineups into landfill already stop traffic going up past it). The additional trucks] would come from Penticton, Keremeos and Electoral Areas B, D, E, F, G, and I, a HUGE area.
The land (1313) is the calving grounds for our Greyback Elk herd (250), home to the California Bighorn Sheep and the endangered Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. It is directly east of the landfill which is in view of anyone looking up past Munson Mountain.
The Campbell Mountain Trail Network is immensely popular, with many people hiking, biking or dog walking there. Frequently, the parking lot at Spiller and Reservoir Roads is full and overflow vehicles line the roads on either side. The proposed facilities across from the parking lot, pose a very real potential for large trucks to encounter pedestrians on that rural road which is a frightful thought.
Attend the Public Hearing on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Penticton Seniors’ Drop-in Centre – Ken Wignes Room, 2965 South Main Street.
Attend the Public Information session - Oct. 4, 6 – 8 p.m. at Uplands Elementary School, 145 Middle Bench Road.
Please sign the petition: www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-a-beautiful-80-acre-agricultural-property-from-becoming-a-compostbiosolids-waste-facility-please.html.
Jacquie Jackson
Penticton
READ MORE: Public hearing for compost facility next to Campbell Mountain landfill