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The Agriculture Land Commission (ALC) is clarifying accusations that it is forcing couples to cancel their wedding day because of zoning regulations.
Over the weekend, Bo.ttega Farm issued notices to couples to inform them that their weddings would have to be cancelled because of a “province wide order” stating that weddings could no longer be planned on land that is zoned Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR). But according to Gerry Zimmerman, Vice Chair of the Okanagan Coast Panel Region, this is not true.
“There haven’t been any changes at all. Bo.ttega was never told they had to cancel any pre-booked weddings,” explained Zimmerman.
A reader has submitted a letter to KelownaNow.com saying they received the note informing her that the Farm would no longer be able to host her wedding. In the letter, it says that Bo.ttega has received a notice to cease and desist all weddings. Zimmerman says the issue lies at Bo.ttega’s feet as they did not obtain the proper applications to host weddings.
“We had a complaint in September that weddings were being held there (at Bo.ttega) and our enforcement people went out and found out that they were being held,” said Zimmerman. “The enforcement person told them to put in an application for non-farm use. Weddings are considered to be a non-farm use.”
Zimmerman says Bo.ttega was told to apply for an application to hold weddings, by December 1st, and they did not do so. Since Bo.ttega did not apply for the proper permitting a letter was sent to them to “cease and desist” booking weddings on the property past December 1st.
Zimmerman is very clear about this point; no further weddings could be booked. Weddings already booked at the site would be allowed to go ahead as planned. Zimmerman said at no time did the ALC require Bo.ttega to cancel any weddings, but rather, not book anymore without the proper permitting.
“Any weddings that have been pre-booked, they can go ahead and they can complete them, we’re not going to stop them and it was never our intent to do so,” added Zimmerman.
KelownaNow has reached out to Bo.ttega for clarification as to why they decided to cancel weddings that have already been booked at the location but an employee said they are not prepared to make a public statement as of yet. They expect to release a statement to the media sometime later, perhaps by Tuesday afternoon.
In the meantime, our KelownaNow reader says Bo.ttega has been very kind to her and will refund her the deposit she placed on the venue. They are also working to help her find another venue for her big day.
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