The recent conditional exclusion of 7.36 hectares from the Agricultural Land Reserve provides the municipality with some badly needed industrial land, but the details for the Bentley Road Industrial Area have not yet been finalized.
Julie McGuire, long-range planner for the municipality, said the land will provide additional space for industrial development in Summerland.
In the past, the shortage of available industrial land has been seen as a factor in keeping industry from locating here.
McGuire said stakeholders have already been consulted about the land use of the area.
“The preference was for clean, green businesses,” she said.
“People would like this area to be high-tech, agricultural or clean.”
Businesses could include distribution hubs and data centres for large companies.
McGuire said Summerland is ideal for data centres partly because a strong fibre-optic network is already in place in the area through the Okanagan Skaha School District.
While the fibre optic network is not yet connected between Penticton and Summerland, there is a planned extension from Summerland to Trout Creek.
While stakeholder comments have already been received, more feedback from the public is welcome.
An open house on the Bentley Road Industrial Area will be held on Thursday, Aug. 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. at municipal hall.
