A survey is underway to get feedback on proposed changes to existing regulations for temporary and permanent farm labourer dwellings in the City of West Kelowna.
A community delegation went to Council on August 22, 2017 and expressed bylaw concerns regarding alleged non-compliance issues related to temporary agricultural worker dwellings. Following the delegation, Council asked staff to review various municipal and provincial regulations for permanent and temporary agricultural worker dwellings, propose amendments and seek public feedback.
"The city's role, based on the view of the public who brought this forward, is to ensure that these members of our community, the agricultural workers, did have the conditions and did have the necessary means to be living and working in our community and be healthy," said West Kelowna Planning Manager, Brent Magan.
Magan says a number of changes are being considered. Availability of showers and kitchens, the number of dwellings, whether they're temporary or permanent, whether or not farmers could combine parcels, and the length of time that the dwellings could be occupied.
The survey can be completed online at www.westkelownacity.ca/farmworkerhousing. The deadline to submit completed surveys is March 9.