City of Pitt Meadows Agricultural Plan

Topic	Sub-topic	Policy or Policy Excerpt	Document Location
policy partnerships, advocacy and development;	agricultural advisory committee; partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	Establish a Standing Agricultural Advisory Committee of Council. Suggested membership on the Committee includes a member of Council as liaison, two representatives nominated from the Pitt Meadows Farmers Institute, two representatives from the farming community at large, a representative representing agri-tourism interests, one member representing the Chamber of Copmmerce, one member representing ecological interests, one member representing the Katzie First Nation as a non-voting member.	4.1;
urban-agriculture conflict/edge planning; education;	disclosure agreement; ALR; residential development;	Request the Real Estate Board to require realtors be adequately trained about the ALR and the Farm Practices Protection Act in order to properly inform potential purchasers of ALR land about living in an agricultural area and an appropriate disclosure statement be signed. The APSC also recommends Council confirm with the Real Estate Board their commitment to maintain all ALR land in the Reserve and that tools to assist realtors with education, such as the BCMAF publication “Countryside and You”, be made available.	4.3;
economic development;	agri-tourism; agricultural advisory committee; partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	Support and encourage agri-tourism in Pitt Meadows and liaise with the Canadian Agri-Tourism Network and the Standing Agricultural Advisory Committee to develop a strategy for agri-tourism options consistent with already existing agricultural enterprises.	4.6;
development and productive use of agricultural land;	ALR subdivision; ALR; ' benefit to agriculture' language;	Support subdivision of agricultural parcels only where the number of parcels does not increase, there are no parcels created that are less than 20 acres, and there is a net benefit to agriculture, as determined by the local Approving Officer in consultation with the Standing Agricultural Advisory Committee, with the exception of home site severance for retiring farmers consistent with existing Agricultural Land Commission policy. Whenever possible, actively look for ways to consolidate smaller parcels to larger ones.	4.8;
development and productive use of agricultural land;	farm home plate; residential development;	Contain all future residential and farm-help dwellings within a strategically located building “envelope” in a manner that optimizes agricultural production in accordance with a policy to be developed by the District of Pitt Meadows in consultation with the Standing Agricultural Advisory Committee, the ALC and the BCMAF.	4.9;
development and productive use of agricultural land; policy partnerships, advocacy and development;	ALR; residential development; partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	To maximize the agricultural land available for future agricultural uses, request the Province to review policies on non-resident ownership currently in place in other jurisdictions and consider implementing policies to encourage agricultural uses of all agricultural lands and reduce potential speculation on value of farmland.	4.11;
economic development;	agricultural industry services;	Investigate a suitable site for an Agricultural Industrial Park, to house value-added agricultural enterprise activities that do not meet the criteria as developed for value-added agricultural enterprise activities on a farm site....( The APSC recommends the site be selected in consultation with the Standing Agricultural Advisory Committee, Engineering and Development Services, the general public and other relevant groups.	4.13;
food processing, storage and distribution;	zoning;	Allow storage of farm inputs on a bona fide farm without further regulation, provided the farm input is not environmentally hazardous, is necessary for the farm operation, will be used in one growing year, and is safely stored at least 15 metres from natural watercourses, ditches or streams and is in accordance with established provincial legislation, regulation, and best practices guidelines.	4.17;
wildlife/environmental/pest management;	wildlife and ecosystem management; research and data collection;	Have the Standing Agricultural Advisory Committee, in consultation with BCMAF, the Pitt Meadows Farmers Institute and others, encourage further research into, review of, and adoption of, alternative bird management practices that are less intrusive than bird cannons.	4.18;
wildlife/environmental/pest management;	wildlife and ecosystem management; research and data collection; agricultural advisory committee; partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	Have the Standing Agricultural Advisory Committee, in cooperation with the Pitt Meadows Farmers Institute and the BCMAF, continually monitor, review and encourage the use of new technologies and practices which may limit the effects of wildlife on the agriculture industry.	4.21;
development and productive use of agricultural land;	recreational use of agricultural land; ALR;	Do not allow any more golf courses or driving ranges on any ALR land in Pitt Meadows.	4.24;