The Kelowna International Airport (YLW) serves about two million passengers each year, which is expected to increase to 3.5 million by 2045. To meet its long-term needs, the airport is expanding its airside and terminal facilities to better serve the business and tourism sectors and residents of the Okanagan valley.
Associated completed an Agricultural Impact Assessment and Agricultural Suitability Assessment of 22 hectares of land owned by YLW, which is in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). Use of land in the ALR for non-farm use or exclusion of the land from the ALR requires approval from the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). The assessments were required as part of an application to exclude the 22 hectares of land from the ALR. Associated worked with YLW to document any limitations to development of land within the ALR and to help guide long-term planning.
One condition of the ALC approval was to develop a Topsoil Salvage and Enhancement Strategy, which Associated completed on behalf of YLW. This strategy included all ALR lands owned by YLW that may be developed within the next 30 years. The strategy provides guidance for removal, salvage, and topsoil handling procedures, and parameters for topsoil placement on ALR land within the region.