Summerhill Winery's proposed culinary college receives nod of support from city

If you build it, they will come.

Already home to a popular gigantic pyramid, Summerhill Winery could one day be home to a world class culinary college.

On Monday, Kelowna city council will receive a report from city planners recommending support for a new six-storey, 37,000 square foot building on Chute Lake Road.

The report details the multi-faceted project that would include large kitchens and classrooms, wine tasting rooms, 150 bedrooms for staff and faculty along with a parkade.

However, councillors won't be able to give the project the full go-ahead.

Due to its proposed location within the boundaries of the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve, council's approval would mean forwarding the project to the ALR commission.

"The proposal has the potential to generate alternative agricultural value to the city and the region in providing for a rare opportunity for value-added agricultural amenities," city planners write in a report to council.

After first being introduced in February of 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture has raised concerns with the project.

"The size and scope of the proposed development and its associated conference centre, sleeping units, atrium/gallery, ponds and spa, parking and administrative areas appear disproportionate to the primary agricultural activity taking place on this ALR parcel," ministry agrologist Christina Forbes writes in a letter to the city.

The city's report does suggest that the project won't reduce the amount of productive farmland at the vineyard due to its location on top of already constructed wine cellars.

Meanwhile, Summerhill's founder and owner Stephen Cipes believes Kelowna is the ideal setting for a world class culinary college.

"It is the breadbasket of BC's Interior, with local produce, meats, fruits, wine, and dairy, and with fresh fish from inland lakes and farms from the nearby coast," Cipes says.

"The entire world will be inspired."

"A headquarters for world food production education with a holistic immersive concept to entice food production entrepreneurs, activists, and executives from around the world."