Central Saanich council didn’t take time off on election night, instead it debated the Woodwynn Farms application to add housing to its therapeutic facility.
Councillor Ron Kubek made a motion that the application from Woodwynn Farms to rezone to a commercial/institutional use be denied and the applicant be advised that they must first seek the approval of the Agricultural Land Commission, as the land is within the Agricultural Land Reserve.
“This puts an end to the application as it was submitted,” said Central Saanich councillor Adam Olsen. “It’s up to the property owner to submit another application.”
“If Woodwynn farm wants to house homeless people and train them to be farm workers, that is fine, but they must abide by the rules of the ALR (agricultural land reserve) and Central Saanich. What is proposed is a commercial and institutional enterprise,” said Kubek.
“Going to the ALC was always a part of the process, so it’s not a new thing for us,” said Richard LeBlanc founder and executive director of Woodwynn Farms.
Under the current zoning Woodwynn can apply for farm worker housing, however what the ALC formula allows would be less than what Woodwynn is requesting for 96 participants and 24 staff members.
The ALC rules also allow Woodwynn a 300 square metre (3,200 square foot) farm market. They would be able to sell their own produce and 50 per cent non-farm produced products; they can also build storage sheds and barns on the property.
“This is not the location for a commercial enterprise with restaurant, wedding chapel, museum and more,” said Kubek. “It’s a farm and if they want to have workers housed there to work the farm and sell produce then they can. We cannot, nor should we limit, who they use to work there whether they be homeless, immigrants, local workers or others as it is the farmer’s right to hire who they wish.”
“We’re not building anything new (for some of the development),” said LeBlanc. “(The buildings) are empty, we want to diversify and make use of the old dilapidated buildings that haven’t been used for 15 years. In addition to that diversity, is the opportunity for training and employment opportunities for our participants, as well as a more diverse revenue base.”
“The ALC is all about farming farmland — a major part of what this proposal brings forward is community farming this farm. It’s very much community oriented,” LeBlanc said. “Housing is one per cent of the total land here. This will be the first time in 150 years of the farm that fruits and vegetables are being grown in a productive kind of way.”
The motion to deny the application passed and the district will refund the rezoning application fee.
“It’s important land in the ALR,” said Olsen. “The application included several uses not directly farm related; restaurant, café, dance hall, are all uses not part of a farm operation … My preference would be that the owner take the proposal to the ALC and bring an application forward for farming.”
Olsen said many of the uses desired by Woodwynn can be achieved under ALC regulations.
“This is a farm operation and it requires a farming focus. The focus here is entirely on the therapeutic community, which for me has its challenges.”
