City of Chilliwack Agricultural Area Plan

Topic	Sub-topic	Policy or Policy Excerpt	Document Location
economic development;	research and data collection;	The City of Chilliwack supports the efforts of the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission and the University of the Fraser Valley to create a centre for excellence and innovation in agriculture at the Chilliwack campus	4.5.1.1
education; edconomic development and agri-tourism;	research and data collection;	The City of Chilliwack supports the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission promoting the progressive components of the agricultural industry in Chilliwack through various ways such as: • Emphasizing technical agricultural careers in area education institutions • Focusing on the importance of research and technology • Promoting the science and technology aspects of the industry.	4.5.2.1
water management;	water restrictions and conservation;	The City of Chilliwack encourages water conservation for all citizens including agricultural users.	4.6.1.1
water management;	water restrictions and conservation;	The City of Chilliwack, when addressing possible water shortages or other water concerns for agriculture, consults with industry stakeholders and looks at economically sustainable solutions to long term needs.	4.6.1.3
water management;	research and data collection;	The City of Chilliwack encourages research efforts involving the agricultural industry and other stakeholders to assess the impact of using lower quality water on local farm operations.	4.6.1.4
development and productive use of agricultural land;		The City of Chilliwack supports the protection and enhancement of designated agricultural land for agricultural purposes.	4.6.2.1
development and productive use of agricultural land;	urban containment/growth boundary;	The City of Chilliwack supports the following: • A focus on densification of existing urban areas that supports building up, not out, to prevent urban sprawl, and redevelopment of central downtown areas through multi-family housing • Ongoing work with the Agricultural Land Commission to establish a rational Urban Containment Boundary • Farmer best management practices, good husbandry of animals and good stewardship of land	4.6.2.2
development and productive use of agricultural land;		The City of Chilliwack encourages existing non-permitted uses on land in the Agricultural Land Reserve be transitioned back into acceptable agricultural uses.	4.6.3.1
development and productive use of agricultural land;	farm worker accommodation;	The City of Chilliwack supports non-permanent housing in cases of demonstrated need for seasonal worker housing on agricultural land.	4.6.3.2
development and productive use of agricultural land;	residential development;	The City of Chilliwack supports the BC Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Land Commission with efforts being made to minimize the impact of residences and other buildings on agricultural land.	4.6.4.1
economic development; food processing, storage and distribution;	food processing;	The City of Chilliwack through the Chilliwack Economic Partners Corporation and the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission supports attracting food processors to encourage economic development in the City.	4.6.5.1
food production;	zoning; ALR subdivision; ALR;	The City of Chilliwack supports agricultural production from all parcels zoned for agriculture including parcels of 10 acres or less.	4.6.6.1
food sales, access and procurement;	farm retail/farm gate sales; farmers' markets;	The City of Chilliwack supports the efforts of local farmers in making their products available for local purchase from the farm gate, through farmers’ markets, or in cooperation with other local retailers.	4.6.6.2
food sales, access and procurement;	farmers' markets;	The City of Chilliwack encourages the establishment of appropriate farmers’ markets in Chilliwack.	4.6.6.3
economic development;	agri-tourism;	The City of Chilliwack supports the efforts of local farmers to increase agri-tourism activities that are consistent with those approved by the Agricultural Land Commission.	4.6.6.4
education;	new entrants to farming;	The City of Chilliwack supports all efforts to encourage young people to enter farming, through the work of the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission, the University of the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack School District 33, and the farm community.	4.6.7.1
first nations and indigenous food systems;		The City of Chilliwack supports working collaboratively with First Nations to share agricultural best practices and to encourage agricultural production on First Nations’ land located in the Chilliwack area.	4.6.8.1
urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning;	nuisance complaints;	The City of Chilliwack supports notifying citizens living adjacent to, or in close proximity to, active farm operations about normal farm practices that are protected from bylaw enforcement or private nuisance suits by the Farm Practices Protection Act. 3. The City of Chilliwack encourages area realtors to ensure purchasers of properties adjacent to, or in close proximity to, active farm operations are aware of normal farm practices protected from bylaw enforcement or private nuisance suits by the Farm Practices Protection Act.	4.7.2.2
urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning;	nuisance complaints;	The City of Chilliwack encourages area realtors to ensure purchasers of properties adjacent to, or in close proximity to, active farm operations are aware of normal farm practices protected from bylaw enforcement or private nuisance suits by the Farm Practices Protection Act.	4.7.2.3
education;	community food system education; local food culture;	The City of Chilliwack supports the annual tour of agriculture in Chilliwack organized by the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission and designed for Councillors, press members, students and educators, and others to promote the activities of area farms and other efforts of the Commission to improve agricultural awareness and understanding.	4.7.2.5
urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning;	nuisance complaints;	The City of Chilliwack encourages the agricultural industry, with leadership from the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission, to prepare and promote a “good neighbour” policy to deal with issues of conflict in the spirit of being good neighbours....( The guidelines may:Farmers will be encouraged to, • Get to know their neighbours and share information about their farm practices • Support neighbourhood practices that enhance quality of life • Protect the area environment with sensitive farm practices • Reduce dust and odour where reasonable to do so • Consider visual screening or hedging where practical • Pull over to allow other traffic to pass when travelling city roads with large farm equipment and tractors • Make efforts when moving farm equipment to take routes that avoid winding, or busy, roads • Make efforts to limit mud and other debris on city roadways • Maintain clean and tidy farm sites. Neighbours will be encouraged to, • Understand and appreciate “normal farm practices” and other best practices on farms • Support farmers’ need to operate their farms in a sustainable manner • Appreciate the contributions of area farms to local food supplies and food security • Eliminate unauthorized trespass on area farms • Report all incidences of dumping of yard waste on area farms • Report observed incidences of vandalism and theft from farms and farm outlets • Share the roads with farm equipment and other vehicles accessing area farms.)	4.7.3.1
economic development;		The City of Chilliwack supports the agricultural industry as an important economic contributor to the Chilliwack economy.	4.7.4.1
urban - agriculture conflict and edge planning;		The City of Chilliwack, in situations where development may impact farm operations or farming operations may affect other residents in any way, supports appropriate edge planning as a way to protect both farmers and other citizens.	4.7.6.1
education;	recreational use of agricultural land;	The City of Chilliwack supports the development of walking and cycling trails adjacent to, or part of, agricultural land where farmers’ affected have been consulted and agree to the use and where the walking and cycling trails may contribute to agricultural awareness and understanding.	4.7.6.2
wildlife, environmental and pest management;	wildlife and ecosystem management;	The City of Chilliwack supports the guidelines for building setbacks from watercourses prepared by the BC Ministry of Agriculture.	4.8.1.1
water management;	irrigation and drainage;	The City of Chilliwack works closely with the farm community to monitor open watercourse drainage and maintenance in order to address farmer requirements.	4.8.2.1
water management; wildlife, environmental and pest management;	irrigation and drainage; wildlife and ecosystem management;	The City of Chilliwack supports existing open watercourse drainage and maintenance activities that recognize fish salvaging and protection of fish habitat.	4.8.2.2
wildlife, environmental and pest management;	wildlife and ecosystem management;	The City of Chilliwack supports progressive farmers who may wish to establish an appropriate buffer zone along watercourses to reduce the amount of run-off into drainage ditches.	4.8.2.3
	emergency preparedness;	2. The City of Chilliwack supports emergency planning activities at the City and Provincial levels to address flooding issues and concerns and to arrange for the evacuation of livestock if required.	4.8.3.2
education;	wildlife and ecosystem management;	The City of Chilliwack supports the efforts of the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission and the University of the Fraser Valley to provide seminars on nutrient management and planning for area farmers.	4.8.4.3
wildlife, environmental and pest management;	wildlife and ecosystem management; BC environmental farm plan; livestock;	The City of Chilliwack supports all livestock farmers in Chilliwack having a nutrient management plan in place to identify farm wastes and how they are disposed. This plan may be developed as part of the Environmental Farm Plan Program offered through the BC Agriculture Council and funded through the Growing Forward agreement between the province and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.	4.8.4.4
wildlife, environmental and pest management;	wildlife and ecosystem management;	The City of Chilliwack supports all efforts of the Chilliwack Agricultural Commission to promote innovative ways to mitigate damage to wildlife habitat from farming practices.	4.8.6.2
wildlife, environmental and pest management;	BC environmental farm plan;	The City of Chilliwack supports the Environmental Farm Plan Program and encourages all area farmers to participate in the program.	4.8.7.1