Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Alan Gatzke

A Lake Country orchardist who has been using a location along Highway 97 for years to sell fruit must dismantle his stand due to a rezoning oversight.

Alan Gatzke, owner of Gatzke Orchards, was sent a letter from the District of Lake Country, Oct. 5, saying his apple stand, that uses the honour system, must be dismantled since the current residential zoning on the property does not permit retail sales at the site on Highway 97 in the Winfield area.

The district received a complaint from the public related to the apple sales. The property is also not located in the agriculture land reserve, the letter from the district notes. Gatzke leases the property from the owner.

While sales are permitted at the property, the product has to be produced on-site and the business activities outside of the principal or accessory building are prohibited, according to the letter. The property's occupant also has to be the one doing the sales.

Gatzke said the property has had that residential zoning for a number of years and one phone call has created the mess.

“Obviously one person didn’t like it… what is the harm?" he said. "Or particularly in this case, it’s just a technicality.”

“We’ve got dozens of emails that have been sent to the district all in support of us being there,” Gatzke said. The issue has also gathered a fair amount of social media attention too, with people advocating for Gatzke.

As of Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, 41 emails and letters have been received addressed to Lake Country mayor and council, a majority in support of the fruit stand, said Ruth Sulentich, communications and public engagement specialist with the district.

In the letter, the district outlines a possible solution to the problem, Gatzke could apply for a temporary use permit which would also require city council to approve a business licence.

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Gatzke has until Friday to dismantle his stand and he hopes council will review one-off complaints and that their policy will change as a result of the incident.

In the letter, the district also said the Ministry of Transportation has been notified about site lines, signs and access to the highway.

He also hopes that if his signs are being examined, all signs along that highway will be as well. He has received no correspondence from the ministry as of Oct. 14.

Gatzke has been selling apples at that location for the last seven to eight years and it has been a popular location with customers. He plans to curb his apple selling as a result of the incident, he said.

"I haven’t even finished picking my apples yet,” he said. “I’m 59 years old, in some ways, I’m going to take it easier and I’m going to farm less land, as far as apples go."

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