It remains to be seen what new options the City of Delta will come up with to guide the approval of farm buildings on agricultural land in addition to the current city building permit process and provincial requirements.
The city has wrapped up a survey that is to help guide the preparation of a set of recommendations for further consideration.
“Our goal is to ensure that our approach remains clear, consistent, and responsive to the evolving needs of farmers, while continuing to protect farmland for future generations,” the city explained.
Farm buildings include all non-residential structures on farmland as permitted under the Agricultural Land Commission Act, the city explains.
The review was prompted by council earlier this year agreeing the city should investigate recent developments on local farmlands where large new buildings have been constructed or are in the process of being built.
The motion was originally put forward by Coun. Dylan Kruger who noted the accessory structures “appear inconsistent with the objectives of Delta’s Agricultural Plan and Official Community Plan, as well as Agricultural Land Commission requirements.”
Noting bylaw staff should review the city’s new agricultural bylaw as well as coordinate and assist an understaffed Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) in monitoring and enforcement on non-compliant structures, Kruger said, ideally, any farm buildings on agricultural land should have a direct benefit to agriculture, and the ALC should provide enforcement.
One of the structures under scrutiny is a building that has been under construction at 2601 56 St.
Several weeks ago, council agreed with a staff recommendation to forward to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) a non-farm use application by the owner.
While council was not stating a position on the application, the large new structure in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) was already the subject of ALC enforcement action, and ALC staff advised the owners that an ALC decision is required for the building and associated fill.
It is a similar story for a large new farm building down the street at 2720 56 St.
Council also agreed to forward a non-farm use application for that structure to the ALC, which had its compliance and enforcement issue a stop work order for the property last fall.
