Not everyone wants to develop their farmland into subdivisions.
Elaine Hall and Phillip Northrop of Wilson Street in Mission have asked council to endorse their application to have a six-plus acre piece of land placed into the Agricultural Land Reserve. The owners of the property want to ensure their hobby farm is protected, according to a staff report.
Councillor Jenny Stevens said she was pleased to see land going the other way when it comes to ALR property.
“We have a person here who obviously loves the land he lives on and wants to protect it,” said Stevens. “I welcome this move. It’s so nice. So often we see it in reverse.”
While land does still go into the ALR, it’s usually on a land-swapping agreement, noted Coun. Tony Luck.
While that option was conveyed to the property owners, Barclay Pitkethly, the district’s deputy director of development services, said it wasn’t the owners’ intention.
They simply wanted to protect what they have, added Pitkethly. “It’s the type of application you might receive once in a career.”
He said the final decision will rest with the Agricultural Land Commission, but it first must be endorsed by council.
Council was unanimous in its support.
