A chance for a Vernon orchard to put modular homes on its property to house farm workers is being supported unanimously by Vernon council.
A property in the 6700 block of Bella Vista Road will have its application to install five model trailers for farm worker housing at the southwest corner of the land go to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) with council's full backing.
"Through the Federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the owners have been approved for nine workers to support the orchard and vegetable operation," said planner Michelle Austin in a report to council. "Each of the five trailers would house two workers. The applicant has submitted a detailed letter outlining the background, proposal, farming operations, and justification for the farm worker housing and its type."
The ALC requires a NonAdhering Residential Use (NARU) application for temporary farm worker housing. Under the ALC Act, Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) applications can only proceed to the ALC with an authorizing resolution from the local government.
Local governments can prevent applications that do not align with local land use plans from advancing to the ALC.
While council unanimously supported the first part of staff's recommendation, they removed two other portions of the motion. Council rejected providing a security sufficient to remove the temporary farm worker housing, and will not put a restrictive covenant stating that the temporary farm worker housing will only be used by temporary farm workers or other permitted uses and activities.
The motion called for the owner to remove the housing and restore land to agricultural use if the housing is vacant for two years.
"I can't support the two years idea," said Coun. Brian Quiring. "I could find five years palatable. But two years is just too fast."
