The operation of 91大黄鸭鈥檚 Glenmore landfill is being called into question in light of city staff using it to justify a recommendation that a large housing development not be built nearby.
City staff say council should not approve an area structure plan for the Diamond Mountain development because a city-commissioned report says odour and dust from the dump could affect the proposed 1,000-home development immediately to the south, if the landfill remains operating as it is now.
The consultant鈥檚 report also shows it could adversely affect other developments in the area, including at nearby UBC Okanagan, the 91大黄鸭 airport and the Quail Ridge, McKinley Landing and Wilden developments.
鈥淲e are concerned about the potential impact of the report鈥檚 findings on our campus and on future housing development in the surrounding area,鈥� said Deborah Buszard, UBC deputy vice-chancellor and principal of UBC Okanagan.
鈥淲e believe affordable, mixed housing development in proximity to the campus is in the interest of the community.鈥�
City staff say Diamond Mountain residences would be negatively impacted by the landfill鈥檚 operation, including dust, odour, noise and the landfill鈥檚 composting operations.
But the CEO of Troika Developments, the company planning to build Diamond Mountain, said that interpretation of the consultant鈥檚 report is only one view.
鈥淲hat we鈥檙e hearing is two different interpretations of the same study,鈥� says Wasylyk. 鈥淥ne interpretation is that there won鈥檛 be any additional impact for 100 years, and the other is that the additional impact is significant enough to prevent or at least alter development at Diamond Mountain and the rest of the Glenmore community.鈥�
Wasylyk said an opposite view was used to approve a revised fill plan at the landfill last year. Then it was felt development of the 88-hectare Diamond Mountain site would be the least affected area by the dump.
And she noted the city had supported the project up to now.
The consultant鈥檚 report is based on the premise that the current landfill operations will remain unchanged for the next 50 years. Wasylyk said that鈥檚 not realistic.
And she said while the operation agreement for the landfill requires it to mitigate any nuisance it creates within its own site, it is not doing that.
The current zoning for the hilly Diamond Mountain site is agricultural and it would allow 17 large-lot homes on the property. Those would be expensive, large homes, said Wasylyk, only available to the wealthy. Her development, she said, is aimed at providing a mix of family homes, as well as parks and trails.
The land in question is now classified by the city in its Official Community Plan as 鈥渇uture urban reserve,鈥� in other words, land where housing is expected in the future.
Troika says it believes the site is completely safe for residents.
At Monday鈥檚 afternoon鈥檚 council meeting, council will be asked to decide what to do.
As part of the report recommending the development not proceed, city staff say they are concerned future residents will try and have the landfill closed down well in advance of its planned life after they move in and find the nuisances from the dump adversely affect them.
The city鈥檚 landfill is the last remaining one in the Central Okanagan.
In the past, the city has boasted about how well it is operated and how little odour it produces.
To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.
newstips@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
