Background
Six Mile Ranch is located about 20 miles from the city of
Kamloops next to Kamloops Lake. More importantly, it is part
of the Agricultural Land Reserve that was established in 1972 to
protect lands that are or may be of agricultural importance. In
July of 1997 Kamlands Holdings Ltd., a subsidiary of
Pagebrook, submitted a proposal to create Kamloops on the
Lake destination golf resort and housing project. In contrast to
earlier proposals, Pagebrook had significantly enlarged the
proposed housing density for the area. According to Catharine
Read, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries
and Food, the land in question is perhaps among the best
agricultural land in the region and the a resort would have a
significant impact on the environment and potential agriculture.
Suggested Benefits
The development is to include a 27 hole golf course, a 977 unit
housing development, three condo-hotels with up to 400 units, a
50-unit guest ranch, a 100 berth marina and continue a 200-head
cattle operation with a gated theme park. Pagebrook asserts that
over $180 million would be spent and 440 full-time jobs plus
2,000 person-years of construction.
On the flip side, Six Mile Ranch is prime agricultural land and its value as such, can not be denied. Pagebrook has made an offer to compensate for this loss by supplying a 640 acre parcel of fee simple land in the Fort St. James area and by participating in a four-way contribution agreement on the Haywood-Farmer Ranch that would enhance fishing and wildlife activities.
Further inquiry into the matter was undertaken by David Perry, Commissioner for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food who made several recommendations in favor of the development. His recommendations in a February 27, 1998 press release included:
- the developer proceed immediately with proposed improvements to adjacent farmlands to be completed within one year.
- the marina and public access to Kamloops Lake be the first resort components to be completed, and that a guest ranch hotel be the last.
- a Memorandum of Understanding between the government and the developer be made a binding contract.
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