A proposed change to Summerland’s Agricultural Land Reserve boundaries would result in a minuscule increase in the community’s farm land base.
At present, 2,824 hectares are within the Agricultural Land Reserve in Summerland, out of a total land base of 7,442 hectares.
Under the proposed Urban Growth Plan, the amount of land within the Agricultural Land Reserve rises to 2,835 hectares. This 11-hectare increase works out to an addition of 0.4 per cent of the existing agricultural land base.
The figures from the municipality are for the removal of 80.34 hectares from the land reserve, along with the addition of 91.7 hectares.
The land proposed for exclusion from the land reserve is 63.34 hectares in the Quinpool Road to Blair Street bluff and 17 hectares in the Barkwill Street and Cooke Avenue area.
The land to be included in the land reserve is 75.8 hectares in the Prairie Valley area north of Highway 40 and 15.9 hectares between Highway 40 and McLellan Road.
Earlier, a figure of 87 hectares had been stated as the amount of land to be removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve, but municipal planner Ian McIntosh said the latest figures are based on more accurate measurements.
He added that the change in land should be seen as a boundary shift rather than an increase in farm land.
“This is a redistribution of the boundaries to accommodate both farms and urban growth,” he said.
Much of the land slated for exclusion is close to the core of the community.
Opponents of the land plan have repeatedly stated that these parcels represent some of the best agricultural land within the community.
Erin Carlson, a farmer who has been advocating for keeping the 80.34 hectares within the Agricultural Land Reserve, said the quality of the land must be considered.
She said soil samples have been taken of the land within the agricultural land reserve, but similar studies have not been done on the lands slated for inclusion.
“We now have a scientific understanding of the soil in the lands they want to take out,” Carlson said. “No true soil sampling has been done on the land they want to put in.”
Mayor Janice Perrino said the growth plan will minimize potential conflicts between farmers and their urban neighbours.
“Put the community in the core and the agriculture on the outside to minimize the impact for residents,” she said.
She added that the growth plan is not a development plan but rather a plan to create an area for future growth.
A report outlining the case for the change in the urban growth area was received council in early December.
On Jan. 31, a draft of the plan will be presented to the municipality’s Advisory Planning Committee on Jan. 31.
The plan will come before council at the Feb. 11 meeting.
A public hearing will be held at a special meeting at the Arena Banquet Room on March 3.
