Results of ALR removal applications
Posted by Steven Hurdle on June 19, 2010
The graphic on the left of the screen (please visit http://insidelangford.ca/ if you’re viewing this in your email) is a summary of the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) decisions regarding exclusion (removal of) land from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in Langford. With this batch processed, ALC staff member Gordon Bednard indicated recently in an email query that there are no ALR exclusion applications for Langford currently before the ALC. Please click on the graphic to expand it and read it in detail.
Cheryl McLachlan said
The table also seems to indicate 3 pending applications, perhaps not yet sent to the provincial ALC, but received by the City of Langford?
3611 Happy Vally Road
943 Latoria Road
951 Kalhanie Drive
Bea McKenzie said
The three approved removals in Langford (March 16th, 2010 ALC date of approval) leave many questions in my mind. The process has been very quirky; dates have been extended; the public has been engaged but over an extended period of time so that it was impossible to track the progress or to make satisfactory response. The reasons for wanting the removals on the landowners applications were so questionable that no one would have thought they stood a chance for removal as the reasons they gave were useless. We have so many concerns; I don`t know where to start. We need to get as much information about the decision as possible so that we in Langford can tell the Greater Victoria Area why we don`t want our land in the ALR…
Jes said
There goes whats left of the neighborhood.
Tick Tock said
Here’s why our Mayor has no quams about rezoning ALR lands. It’s all about selling zoning for money to finance many of the capital projects ,some needed(eg. recreational facilities) some not needed(eg.trollies,town clock etc).
The Bear Mountain project is on hold and owing millions of dollars to us Langford citizens,Skirt Mountain got its rezoning but who knows when that project will proceed and start generating revenue for the City.
So the only other place to rezone to pay for all the capital projects on Stew’s list is ALR properties.
Our Mayor and Council has given a whole new meaning to “selling the farm”!!!!
The other key aspect about rezoning the ALR lands in the Happy Valley neighbourhood is transportation. We have a Mayor and Council arguing for a very expensive light rapid transit system,which will require very high capacity ridership to justify the expense and yet our Mayor and Council are preparing to turn Happy Valley Road into a 4 lane Arterial Highway and promote suburban sprawl. Would someone explain the logic in this?
Anonymous said
Tick Tock. Read the Agriculture Land Reserve Act. No Mayor or Council may rezone lands that are designated as within the ALR for uses other than agriculture without prior approval of the Agriculture Land Commission. You are slapping Langford Council for “selling the farm”. Look a little higher up the ladder at who has actually made the decision. You may dislike Stew and Council, but at least be fair.
Cheryl McLachlan said
Granted, the decision to include, exclude or deny any change in the ALR (Agricultural Land Reserve) is made by the ALC, the provincial Agricultural Land Commission. However, for the ALC to be able to consider an application, it must be forwarded by the local government, with or without a statement of support. If the local government chooses, as is its right in planning its own land use, and does not forward the application then the application re: ALR land within its boundaries dies – the local government, our mayor & council, have an effective VETO. Interesting to note ALL 10 ALR exclusion applications presented to Langford Council since at least 2006 when I personally started tracking local ALR exclusion applications, were forwarded to the ALC. And the City of Langford seems to indicate there are more the ALC will be receiving. Historically it is interesting to note Langford Council (same mayor and most of the same councillors) itself attempted a mass exclusion of ALR lands so perhaps the criticisms do not fall too far from the tree that is part of where the problem stems from……….
Tick Tock said
anonymous. I don’t think i’m being unfair with my comments but perhaps i should be challenged on the fact that i didn’t go far enought and include other levels of government for ‘selling the farm”.
Clearly,this Mayor and Council have recognized that the Provincial Government doesn’t really care what type of land use planning goes on in municipalities throughout B.C. The Province has downloaded so much on municipalities over the last 20 years or so that they recognize that to keep municipalities from dissolving and off their backs they need to give them free reigns to generate revenue and as a result a lot of sound land use planning principles went out the window a number of years ago.
When you look at the facts, it is difficult to argue that the Mayor and Council in Langford haven’t been leaders in “selling the farm”