The Kelowna International Airport is still awaiting provincial approval on removing four plots from the Agricultural Reserve Land for future expansion.

On May 30, YLW received approval from the City of Kelowna and Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO), and now is waiting on the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). 

Photo Credit: Kelowna Airport.The Kelowna Airport has applied for land usage approval to the ALC when it comes to four plots of ALR land.

Airport director Sam Samaddar said local passengers could start to see changes within the next five years if the ALC allows the land usage.

When Kelowna airport officials developed their master redevelopment plan in 2005, Samaddar said they expected this to be part of the process.

“We knew that as the airport expanded that we would require these lands for the future development of the airport,” he said.

They have already gone through four or five steps in the process, including sending a report to ALC. The city and RDCO also sent in recommendations, and now, the airport awaits the official decision.  

Photo Credit: City of Kelowna.A map found in council minutes giving details on the parcels of land.

Samaddar said he expects the commission to visit the airport and look at the request in person before any decision is made.

Overall, he said the airport expansion is crucial to the Okanagan.

“The airport is an economic engine for the entire region, not just the city of Kelowna,” said Samaddar. “It links in visitors from around the world but also transports people locally.”

Samaddar said he expects the airport to continue to grow to meet demand.  

“Without that additional land, we would not be able to continue to grow the airport,” he said.

The airport is currently in need of more aircraft gates, and with wingspans increasing on new aircrafts, they expect to need more room for planes.

Sanddar said they plan to expand the apron, where planes park for loading and unloading, the terminal building and to add more remote parking positions for the aircrafts so they aren’t taking up prime gate space.

They also require land on the east side for other aircraft services including fueling, maintenance and cargo.

“We’ve used up all the land that we have on the west side that has direct airside access,” said Samaddar.

Photo Credit: KelownaNow.​The next step, if the land usage is approved, would be to complete a detailed design for the extension, develop cost estimates and a financial plan.

When the airport was first built in 1946, there was no ALC. The airport was built on an old tobacco farm, and the city bought land on the west side of the airfields for future development of the airport.

After the ALC came into effect, it claimed areas for the reserve.

“At the end of the day, the airport can’t just get up and leave, it can’t move,” said Samaddar. “It’s a very expensive asset.

“The land itself will still be held in a community trust, which I call the pot of public interest, to continue to drive the economy of the region.”

According to the ALC website, officials consider a number of criteria when an application is submitted. For example, if the land is recently purchased and the owner hasn’t attempted to farm it, the land usage isn’t likely to be approved. If the land is suitable for use in agriculture, it is again expected to be kept in the ALR.

On the plus side, they also consider if other land is up for grabs in the area, which the airport insists there isn’t, and if local governments have recommended the proposed usage, which they have.

There is no word on when the ALC decision will be made.