District of Kent Agricultural Area Plan (OCP Schedule E)

Topic	Sub-Topic	Policy or Policy Excerpt	Document Location
urban-agriculture conflict/edge planning;		It is recommended the District of Kent, in situations where development may impact farm operations in any way, consider edge‐planning strategies as an effective option for protecting farmers from possible impact on their operations.	4.2.1
development and productive use of agricultural land;	recreational use of agricultural land; ALR; partnerships/advocacy/liaising; agricultural advisory committee;	It is recommended the District of Kent, in all cases where recreational trails may be considered in, or adjacent to, agricultural land, have plans reviewed by the Kent Agricultural Advisory Committee and the Agricultural Land Commission where required, and involve the agricultural community in the planning and implementation of design standards and maintenance or operation plans, to take into consideration concerns of the agricultural community and to minimize conflict	4.3
development and productive use of agricultural land;	ALR;	It is recommended the District of Kent encourage amalgamation of contiguous parcels owned by one land owner to the extent possible, but not if any non‐agricultural use of any part of the parcels is proposed as a condition of amalgamation.	4.4.1
development and productive use of agricultural land;	ALR; residential development;	It is recommended the District of Kent, as a matter of policy, discourage applications for additional residences in the Agricultural Land Reserve.	4.5.1
development and productive use of agricultural land;	zoning; ALR; residential development;	It is recommended the District of Kent, after discouraging applications for additional permanent dwellings on agricultural land, consider removing the Rural Residential 1 and Rural Residential 2 zones from the Zoning Bylaw so that all agricultural land has as its main purpose to provide for agricultural and related rural development.	4.5.2
water management;	irrigation and drainage; partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	It is recommended the District of Kent work closely with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Fraser Valley Regional District, and the Province as required, to implement appropriate bank protection and encourage better dredging of the Fraser River.	4.6.2
food sales, access and procurement;	local procurement; farmers' markets; partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	It is recommended the District of Kent make every effort, in cooperation with the Kent Agricultural Advisory Committee, the local agricultural community and the Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce where appropriate, to support District farmers in making their products available for local purchase either from the farm gate or through a farmers’ market or in cooperation with other local retailers.	4.7.1
food sales, access and procurement;	farmers' markets; partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	It is recommended the District of Kent, in cooperation with interested local farmers and the local business community, and the Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce if appropriate, review ways to encourage development of a local farmers’ market in the Agassiz and Harrison area.	4.7.2
economic development;	farm diversification; agri-tourism;	It is recommended the District of Kent support farmers considering value‐added, vertical integration, agri‐tourism, culinary tourism or other diversification efforts by continuing to provide a supportive regulatory environment for this to occur.	4.8.1
policy partnerships, advocacy and development;	partnerships/advocacy/liaising; agricultural advisory committee;	It is recommended the District of Kent continue to appoint a staff person as the designated first point of contact for agricultural issues and concerns, to attend all meetings of the Kent Agricultural Advisory Committee, and to prepare the background material and other items necessary for those meetings	5.1.1
development and productive use of agricultural land;	agricultural impact assessment; partnerships/advocacy/liaising; agricultural advisory committee;	It is recommended the District of Kent, with input from the Kent Agricultural Advisory Committee and other appropriate bodies such as the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands and the Agricultural Land Commission, prepare an appropriate agricultural impact assessment process so that all situations involving land‐use20 District of Kent Agricultural Area Plan applications or other issues affecting agricultural land in the District of Kent may be addressed through a consistent process.	5.3.2
First Nations and indigenous food systems;	partnerships/advocacy/liaising;	It is recommended the District of Kent continue to maintain positive relationships with First Nations communities by inviting representatives to participate in agricultural tours and other appropriate District agricultural events.	6.2.1