Salt Spring Island Local Trust Committee Official Community Plan Bylaw No. 434, Volume 1: Land Use and Servicing Objectives

Topic	Sub-topic	Policy or Policy Excerpt	Document Location	Language Rating
wildlife/environmental/pest management;	climate change and greenhouse gases;	The Local Trust Committee should support local food production as a significant factor in reducing food transportation costs and greenhouse gas emissions.	A.6.2.15
policy partnerships, advocacy and development;	zoning; agricultural advisory committee; agricultural-government liaising;	The Local Trust Committee should maintain an Agricultural Advisory Committee to: a. provide community advice about bylaw changes, applications for rezoning or subdivision, and applications to the Agricultural Land Commission. b. help in developing and interpreting local policies about farming. c. identify other ways that the Local Trust Committee can encourage and support farming in the community.	B.6.2.2.1
food processing,storage and distribution; development and productive use of agricultural land;	zoning; food processing; food storage; ALR;	The Local Trust Committee will not make changes to local bylaws to prohibit or restrict farming in the Agricultural Land Reserve or in areas where farming is now allowed, or that are obstacles to the creation of local abattoirs, cold storage facilities, or other facilities that would improve local food security.	B.6.2.2.6	*
food processing,storage and distribution; food sales, access and procurement; food production; economic development;	zoning; farmers' markets; food processing; food storage; farm worker accommodation; ALR; residential development; agri-tourism; agricultural advisory committee; research and data collection; livestock;	On the advice of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, the Local Trust Committee should continue to support local farming by: a. addressing the need for additional housing on agricultural land. b. permitting appropriate farm uses as defined by the Agricultural Land Reserve Act and Regulations. c. recognizing the traditional uses of the property owned by the Salt Spring Island Farmer's Institute on Rainbow Road. d. allowing for the processing and warehousing of island farm products on the Institute's property. e. supporting zoning that would allow various forms of community farming activities. f. supporting the development of farmers' markets. g. considering changes to the Land Use Bylaw, based on the objectives of the Area Farm Plan and in consultation with the Agricultural Land Commission and the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, to permit additional dwellings for farm workers. h. considering changes to the Land Use Bylaw to further support agri-tourism. i. supporting all efforts to ensure a viable local livestock industry. j. updating agricultural information, monitoring changes in the agricultural sector and helping to identify unused or available farmland.	B.6.2.2.7	*
development and productive use of agricultural land;	zoning; ALR subdivision; ALR; 'benefit to agriculture' language;	The minimum average size of lots that can be created by subdivision in the Agriculture and Watershed-Agriculture Designation will remain the same as permitted by existing zoning. The Local Trust Committee could consider amending the minimum size of individual lots, if such a change would benefit local farming or protect agricultural land by allowing clustered development. Background Note: The minimum parcel sizes and minimum average parcel sizes outlined in the Land Use Bylaw apply only when land is: a. excluded from the Agricultural Land Reserve, or b. approved for subdivision by the Agricultural Land Commission. An exception to the minimum lot sizes can be made where a home site is being created for a relative as outlined in Section 946 of the Local Government Act. Such subdivisions must also be approved by the Agricultural Land Commission.	B.6.2.2.8	*
food processing, storage and distribution; economic development; waste management;	zoning; food processing; demonstration farm; agri-tourism; ALR;	The Local Trust Committee could consider changing zoning to permit the following land uses, where permitted by the Agricultural Land Reserve Act or regulations, on individual properties in the Agriculture Designation: small-scale processing and sales of island-grown forest products; farming schools; farm-based tourist accommodation; waste management facilities. Such uses should only be allowed where farming capability is minimal and the planned use would not interfere with land productivity. Preference should be given to proposals that would improve the viability of an existing farm operation.	B.6.2.2.9
development and productive use of agricultural land;	zoning; transfer of development potential;	The Local Trust Committee should consider rezoning applications from property owners with productive agricultural land outside the Agricultural Land Reserve who wish to transfer their development potential to maintain their farm. Such Land could be considered a Development Potential Donor Area, despite the development potential transfer status of the Designation it is in. Such applications should follow the guidelines in Appendix 4.	B.6.2.2.10
food processing, storage and distribution;	zoning; food processing; food storage; amenity density zoning/contributions;	The Local Trust Committee could consider rezoning applications to allow higher density in exchange for community owned farmland or land for community farm product processing or storage facilities. Such applications should follow the guidelines in Appendix 3. Such land is an eligible community amenity, which could be exchanged for a higher density of development as outlined in Appendix 3.	B.6.2.2.11
development and productive use of agricultural land;	ALR;	The Local Trust Committee will support the inclusion of agricultural land within the Agricultural Land Reserve.	B.6.2.2.12	*
development and productive use of agricultural land;	ALr subdivision;	The Local Trust Committee could support applications to the Agricultural Land Commission to subdivide land within the Agricultural Land Reserve if: a. the subdivision results in improved farming capability or production on all proposed lots in a way that would be impossible without subdivision. b. the subdivision is to provide a house site up to 0.6 ha in size for an adult relative of the property owner, as defined by Section 946 of the Local Government Act and the parcel was held by that owner (or a blood relation) before the adoption of the Agricultural Land Commission Act on December 21,1972. c. the subdivision is clearly in the public interest consistent with other objectives of this Plan	B.6.2.2.13
development and productive use of agricultural land;	roads in agricultural land;	The Local Trust Committee should only support the use of lands in the Agriculture or Watershed Agriculture Designations for road access to other lands if the proposed road does not interfere with farming capability.	B.6.2.2.14	*
development and productive use of agricultural land;	ALR exclusion; ALR; 'benefit to agriculture' language;	The Local Trust Committee could support applications to the Agricultural Land Commission for non-farm use or exclusion of land within the Agricultural Land Reserve in some situations where local farming or the greater community would benefit. Support for such applications should only be considered if the application has been referred to the Agricultural Advisory Committee and falls into one of the following categories: a. the proposed non-farm use or exclusion would allow an active farm to diversify and broaden its income, but not decrease the farming capability of the property. b. the proposed non-farm use or exclusion is consistent with local zoning or a land use designation or policy in this Plan, including policies B.3.3.2.10 and B.7.2.2.7. c. in the instance of a proposed exclusion, the Local Trust Committee may consider an application that would result in inclusion of existing non-ALR farmland into the ALR. d. the non-farm use or exclusion of property for essential community services, if the location of the service is limited by engineering constraints, or by strategic considerations such as those that determine the best location for an emergency response station, and the proponent has demonstrated that there is no suitable alternate, non-ALR property. Background Note: This policy suggests the types of applications to the Agricultural Land Commission which could be supported by the Local Trust Committee. However, the final decision regarding all such applications rests with the Commission.]	B.6.2.2.15
water management;	zoning; irrigation and drainage; agricultural advisory committee; agricultural-government liaising;	When it considers rezoning applications that are not related to farming, the Local Trust Committee will ensure the availability of water for farming would not be reduced because of a zoning change. If a rezoning application would result in an increase in water use, the Local Trust Committee will ask the Agricultural Advisory Committee for advice about the potential impacts on farming.	B.6.2.2.16
water management; urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning;	stormwater management;	The Local Trust Committee encourages subdivision layouts that reduce the potential for conflict with farming. When subdivisions are proposed for land that drains towards agricultural lands, the staff shall request that the Subdivision Approving Officer consider how changes to natural drainage patterns could affect agricultural activities. Such applications may be referred to the Agricultural Advisory Committee for advice and the Advisory Committee's suggestions for the protection of farming operations will be forwarded to the Subdivision Approving Officer for consideration.	B.6.2.2.17
water management; urban-agriculture conflict and edge planning;	zoning; stormwater management; buffer at agricultural edge;	When it considers rezoning applications for land that borders or drains into agricultural land, the Local Trust Committee will ensure that zoning changes are not made in a way that would have a negative effect on farming. For example, the Committee could require that a vegetation buffer be maintained on land that is being rezoned next to farm land, if the proposed use could result in conflicts with a farming operation. The Committee should also ensure that a zoning change would not result in detrimental changes to natural drainage or pollution of water supplies. The Agricultural Advisory Committee will be asked for advice about rezoning applications on land that borders or drains into agricultural land.	B.6.2.2.18	8
development and productive use of agricultural land;	zoning; commercial development; institutional development; residential development;	Zoning changes should not be made to allow large new multi-family, industrial, institutional or commercial developments in the Agriculture or Watershed-Agriculture Designation. An exception could be considered for community facilities or limited industrial zoning that would provide broad benefits to the community and are specifically mentioned in this Plan.	B.6.2.2.19	*
food production;	GE/GMO; seeds; crops;	The Local Trust Committee will support efforts to discourage the use of genetically engineered seeds or plants for locally grown products	B.6.2.2.30
water management;	zoning; irrigation and drainage; wildlife and ecosystem management;	When considering rezoning applications, the Local Trust Committee should consider the impacts of the proposed new use on existing wells, springs, or other water supplies. If the proposed use is expected to need more water than the uses already allowed on the property, then the Committee should ask for evidence that wells or other water supplies in the neighbourhood would not be depleted. The Committee should also consider whether water use would affect agricultural activities or deplete any springs necessary to maintain fish habitat. Should a zoning change be proposed where groundwater supplies are not adequate, the applicant could be encouraged to find other means of supplying water. Rainwater catchment or a water conservation program could be considered.	C.3.3.2.2