As an active member of the Vernon Commonage Preservation Conservation Partnership, we are committed to advocating for the protection of critical ecological habitats within the Vernon Commonage. This incredible landscape, characterized by rare grassland ecosystems, supports endangered species and provides invaluable ecosystem services to our community.
The Proposed Development
Kerkhoff Develop-Build is proposing to build on a 421-hectare property known as the 580 Commonage for mixed-use residential housing, parks/natural open space, and neighbourhood commercial uses, with a total of 3,960 housing units. While the developer envisions “attainable and innovative housing in harmony with nature,” this proposed development is located within the Vernon Commonage, which contains critical ecological habitat, including irreplaceable grasslands.
Our Conservation Vision
While we acknowledge the current zoning offers no environmental protections, we believe any future envisioning for this special area must prioritize grassland conservation through:
1. Strategic Conservation Planning
- Establish permanent conservation easements for sensitive grassland areas
- Protect areas with the highest native biodiversity value
2. Biodiversity Protection
- Establish expanded buffer zones around sensitive grassland habitats
- Protect rare plant communities and wildlife breeding areas
3. Grassland Management
- Implement Indigenous-led prescribed burning programs
- Restore degraded grassland areas with native species
Why This Matters: The Biodiversity at Stake
According to the OCCP Biodiversity Fact Sheet, the Vernon Commonage contains:
- Provincially red- and blue-listed species at risk
- Critical habitat for Species at Risk as defined under federal and provincial legislation
- Rare grassland ecosystems that represent some of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada
- Important wildlife corridors connecting fragmented habitats across the landscape
- Nesting and breeding habitat for grassland-dependent birds and other wildlife
These grasslands are irreplaceable. Once lost, the specialized plant communities, soil structures, and ecological relationships that have developed over thousands of years cannot be recreated.
Recent Partnership Updates
Letter to City Council: Our partnership has drafted a comprehensive letter to Vernon City Council outlining our conservation concerns and recommendations. This letter, developed collaboratively with members including Harold Sellers, Jeff Ward, Janet Parkins, and the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program (OCCP), will be submitted to council for consideration.
Community Engagement: Janet Parkins recently held a public meeting that drew 40 attendees who wrote letters to council expressing their support for conservation measures. These letters are being delivered to council in batches, demonstrating strong public interest in protecting the Vernon Commonage.
Conservation Funding Efforts: We are actively exploring partnership opportunities with the BC Parks Foundation to potentially support the purchase and protection of the 580 Commonage property. This would ensure permanent conservation of these critical grassland habitats.
Indigenous Partnership: The OCCP has extended a standing offer to the Okanagan Indian Band to collaborate on wildlife connectivity and conservation planning for the area.
Scientific Foundation: Our conservation recommendations are based on updated Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI) data and the comprehensive 2005 SEI Report, which documents the ecological significance of these grasslands.
Our Position
Given the irreplaceable ecological value of these grasslands and their critical role in supporting endangered species and ecosystem services, we firmly oppose the proposed development of this site in its current form. We call on the City of Vernon, Kerkhoff Develop-Build, and all stakeholders to work together to find solutions that truly harmonize human needs with the preservation of our region’s most vulnerable and valuable natural heritage.
The Vernon Commonage is not just a piece of land—it is a living ecosystem that has sustained biodiversity for millennia. Its protection is our responsibility to future generations.
Get Involved
We encourage community members to:
- Learn more about the biodiversity at stake: Vernon Commonage Biodiversity Fact Sheet (OCCP) and 2005 SEI Vernon Commonage Report
- Write to Vernon City Council expressing support for conservation measures
- Attend public meetings and information sessions about the 580 Commonage development
- Join the Vernon Commonage Preservation Conservation Partnership
- Support local organizations working to protect grassland ecosystems, including the North Okanagan Naturalist Club and the Okanagan Collaborative Conservation Program
For more information about our partnership and conservation efforts, please contact us or visit our partner organizations’ websites.
Together, we can ensure that community maturation in the Okanagan truly means living “in harmony with nature”—not at its expense.
Photos: Kerkhoff Develop-Build
