Agriculture Plan
Consultation has concluded
What's happening
At the October 1, 2018 meeting Council approved recommended bylaw amendments to amend the Official Community Plan and Zoning Bylaw based on many of the recommendations in the Agriculture Plan (which was endorsed in August 2017).
These policy regulation changes will make significant shifts to advancing the vision of the Agriculture Plan of:
“Kelowna is a resilient, diverse, and innovative agricultural community that celebrates farming and values farmland and food producers as integral to our healthy food system, economy, and culture.”
We invited you to “feed us your feedback” on the proposed policy until March 31, 2018. This input provided direction for the recommended amendments presented to Council.
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Maximum Home Size on A1 Properties
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The farm house is essential to supporting agriculture in Kelowna. However, the trend to larger homes (e.g. estate homes) is driving up the cost of farmland, making it harder for farmers to buy and use the land for farming now and in the future.
A provincial survey showed that 93 per cent of residences on ALR parcels in Kelowna are within the 500m2 (5,382ft2) maximum. However, the survey also showed that 30 per cent of homes built between 2007 and 2014 on farmland exceeded this size, indicating a trend for increasing home size.
Currently, Kelowna’s agricultural zoning does not regulate house size. Staff are proposing to adopt house size policy for agriculture lands based on Ministry of Agriculture’s guidelines, for properties over 1 acre (0.4ha). This policy would:
- Reduce speculation;
- Stablize agricultural land values;
- Minimize the impacts of residential uses on farming potential; and
- Clarify development regulations for properties zoned A1.
Proposed housing size policy for A1 properties:
Properties less than 1 acre (0.4 ha)
- Housing size does not apply
Properties 1 acre (0.4 ha) or more
- Maximum house size of 500m2 (5,382ft2)
- Basements less than 1.95 metres in height excluded
- Additional 300m2 (3,229ft2) allowed for mobile home for immediate family (where permitted)
Do you think the proposed policy to limit home size will help stabilize the cost of farm land making it easier for farmers to purchase and farm the land?
Go to discussion -
Vegetative buffers for urban properties adjacent to ALR lots
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Farming is a diverse industry, and normal farm practices such as the use of sprays and machinery can create conflicts with urban neighbours. Conflicts can make it hard for farmers to farm, either from complaints, or trespass, littering, vandalism or even flooding from neighbouring urban development. Similarly, farming practices can make it challenging for residents to enjoy their homes and outdoor spaces due to dust, sprays and noise.
A landscape buffer provides benefits to urban parcels, protecting from dust, spray and noise, and provides benefits to the farm by creating a transition and physical barrier to agricultural practices. While the type of urban development (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.) plays a role in compatibility, currently the Zoning Bylaw does not differentiate between these and requires a 3-metre buffer in addition to standard setback for all types of development.
The proposed buffer and setback policy for new developments within urban zones is based on Ministry of Agriculture’s Edge Planning Guidelines and will help to minimize conflicts between urban and agriculture neighbours.Minimum setback (on and
off-site from adjacent agriculture
parcel to on-site structure)
Minimum on-site
landscape buffer
Existing urban residential lot <0.4ha
Per existing zone
3 metres
Existing urban residential lot >0.4ha
20 metres
8 metres
New residential subdivision
20 metres
15 metres
Multi-unit residential
20 metres
15 meters
Commercial
15 metres
8 metres
Institutional
90 metres
15 metres
Industrial
15 metres
8 metres
Do you think the proposed policy to increase required buffers and setbacks for new urban development will help address conflicts between farmers and urban neighbours?
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Secondary use changes for properties zoned A1
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Approximately 72 per cent of all 12,000 ha of land zoned for agriculture are in the ALR. These ALR lands are further regulated by the provincial ALR Regulation which specifies permitted land uses in the ALR and outlines requirements for farming on these properties when a secondary use, such as a winery, processing or forestry takes place. The Agriculture Land Commission can enforce these regulations, including crop and volume requirements, while it is difficult for a local government to do so.
This proposed amendment distinguishes the secondary uses that are permitted in the ALR and those that are permitted outside of the ALR for lots zoned A1 as illustrated below (those in bold are regulated by the Agriculture Land Commission). Note: those non-ALR lots with established secondary uses at the time of bylaw adoption will be grandfathered. This helps to achieve the Agriculture Plan recommendation to “ensure compliance between the A1 zone and provincial standards.” Further, it provides a clear understanding of what uses are permitted.
Secondary Uses – ALR Lots(a) Agri-tourism(b) Alcohol production facility (brewery, cidery, distillery, meadery, winery)(c) Bed and breakfast homes(d) Child care centre, minor(e) Farm retail sales stands(f) Forestry(g) Group homes, minor(h) Home based businesses(i) Kennels(j) Mobile home for immediate family(k) On-farm processing(l) Secondary suite(m) Temporary farm worker housingSecondary Uses – non ALR lots
(a) Agri-tourism(b) Animal clinics (note: this use is not permitted on ALR land)(c) Bed and breakfast homes(d) Child care centre, minor(e) Group home, minor(f) Home based businesses(g) Kennels(h) Secondary suite(i) Temporary farm worker housingDo you think the proposed policy to distinguish secondary uses for inside and outside the ALR will provide clear understanding for landowners and perspective purchasers?
Who's listening
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Email tguidi@kelowna.ca
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