Organizers of the GLOW events are trying to bring them back to Langley.
Last year, Darvonda Nurseries in Milner moved the events, which include light displays, food, and family events inside portions of the greenhouses, to Abbotsford.
That came after the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC), the agency that regulates the use of the Agricultural Land Reserve in B.C., ruled the event was not a permitted farm use
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It said the nursery would have to apply for a non-farm use permit to hold the events in a portion of the existing Darvonda greenhouses property located at 6690 – 216 Street.
Darvonda has now done exactly that, according to a report to Langley Township Council, which said the greenhouse is seeking approval from the ALC to hold two events, “Glow Harvest,” running from Sept. 27 to Nov. 3, and “Glow Christmas,” which would run from Nov. 22 to Jan. 5.
On Monday, June 30, the application won the backing of a majority on Langley Council, a preliminary step before the proposal is heard by the ALC.
Mayor Jack Froese was part of the majority of council who supported the application, while Coun. David Davis, a dairy farmer, was among the minority who opposed it.
“It’s a greenhouse, it should be growing food,” Davis commented.
Coun. Blair Whitmarsh, who supported the application, said the greenhouse was a nursery not devoted to food production.
“I think it makes great sense both from agricultural and business [standpoints],” Whitmarsh said.
A report to Township Council by planning technician Rob Nordrum said the proposed non-farm use application complies with the Township’s zoning bylaw and was “consistent with general provisions of the Township of Langley sustainability charter, Official Community Plan and Rural Plan.”
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Now, it’s up to the ALC.
Kim Grout, chief executive officer of the ALC, said the tribunal aims to make decisions within 60 to 90 days of an application arriving.
“Sometimes, an application is placed on hold because we need more information, or it isn’t complete,” Grout advised.
Darvonda Nurseries CEO Lawrence Jansen told the Langley Advance Times the greenhouse had to apply “because the ALC will not have a discussion with us about how it should be permitted like other pumpkin patches etc. without applying for a non-farm use permit.”
“We believe it fits within the current guidelines of what we can do on a farm similar to Krause Berry Farms,” Jansen said.
dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
