Agriculture and rural land

Check out our platform at LangleyStrong.ca/Platform, and you’ll find a lot in our Restoring Respect for Farmers pillar on farming and equestrian, including a new Rural Plan, lobbying the BC Assessment Authority and government include horse boarding as a farm use, creating an emergency livestock evacuation plan, and a lot more. On sports, we are committed to reviewing each neighbourhood’s needs and working with residents who live there on prioritizing and sequencing projects. I know there is need for non-school public gymnasiums for volleyball, basketball, and other sports. I for one would welcome more disc golf (and many of my friends who play frequently) as I’m a pretty decent frisbee tosser!

To be clear, our explicit promise is to have a conversation with the federal government: “Open conversations with the federal government about the long-term future of the Department of National Defence lands south of the 264th St./Highway 1 interchange. Investigate dedication of a portion that could be used to create more industrial space, to grow Langley’s economy and tax base, create more manufacturing jobs for Canadians, and designed in a way to respect the environment.” Those lands have sat for decades, with seemingly little action from the federal government on it. With the U.S. trade issues, and the feds looking to harness any economic advantage possible, we think it’s worth a conversation about their long term plans. Yes, there are wetlands within the lands, but there are likely developable areas that could be used while balancing environmental considerations. Langley desperately needs to grow our tax base. The current mayor and council have spent our savings, run us up to $800 million of debt, slowed the growth they claim will pay for it, and parked a 22.8% tax hike in their 2027 fiscal plan. An important route out of this mess is to attract commercial and industrial businesses who pay more in taxes, and use fewer services than the average home. So our commitment is a conversation with the federal government about their long-term plan for those lands, and if there is a strategic purpose for them that could help Canada, and the Township taxbase.

Yes, the Rural Plan is 33 years old, and farming has changed in that time. Review the AVS and ensure farmland stays farmland. Truck parking is designated areas, as solution that will work for both sides. Highway 1 corridor; make this a component of a new rural plan.

I was going to look up the age of our rural plan because I believe it's been 33 years if I'm not correct. Yeah. One specific change is the rules for the farm-based businesses are same on inside the ALR as they are out. It's been 33 years since we've had an updated rural plan. So it is very, and farming has changed. Farming has changed in that time. The plan hasn't. So we don't protect farmland by just freezing it. We protect it by making farming viable enough that nobody wants to sell and protecting farmland and farm economy are the same job. Land stays in farming, only farming pays. So right now the answer a farmer gets … the line they're on, not on what they're doing. So another concrete issue is also horse breeding. Right now that's not, or horse boarding, sorry, that's not considered farming in Langley. So we have to look at that as well. So those are two areas that we need to look at is really updating the rural plan and looking at horse boarding as well.

Do not remove ALR land especially for truck parking, use proper zoning for trucks. Truck parking is vital for farmers and it needs to be a part of a revised Rural Plan. SPEA land must be protected for environment and fish. It has been too long that the Rural Plan has been not been revised, part of our platform.

We need to update the rural plan! Work to find parking solutions with industry and province. Increase enforcement and keep trucks on trucking routes. Include public input, farmers, Ag and Rural Stakeholders. Focus on zoning concerns.

Truck parking is a challenge. The Land Commission has a huge say on what uses are appropriate. (ie: right to farm) We have tremendously improved and added 11 bylaw officers (continue working with stakeholders and continue getting the job done).

Rural Plan update with all stakeholders, farmers, residents, staff, outside experts. Update so the community feels heard and respected. Find route for trucks, possibly after Highway 1 construction. Rural Plan should address truck parking. Ensure farmland stays farmland.

We need to update the rural plan! We need to work with our provincial partners to have truck parking on crown land close to HWY 1 like they do in Europe! We can't address a problem without solutions. The trucks need a place to park not on ALR lands.

The AAC’s role is very limited. It is an advisory committee. The AAC members should play a bigger role in decisions regarding agriculture. The land commission. They need to play a bigger role in our TOL Policy making process

Thank you, Cory, Thank you for the question. Farmland stays farmland. And as far as balancing the needs, we need to create buffers between. We need to update our rural plan. It's painfully old. And that … involves consultation, consultation from the rural community. … Sorry, just flipping. Like, Michelle I'm a little nervous. And I want to help with agritourism marketing and rural signage. And I think an important thing for me and from my wheelhouse is bylaw enforcement for the infractions that we see both in both areas, frankly. And we need to have specialized bylaw enforcement for rural and as well as for urban because there's different issues for each area. And those are my thoughts. Thank you.

More than 30 years old. A priority for this term along with the Agricultural Viability Strategy. But, it shouldn't be written at Townhall and then handed to farmers afterwards. Farmers, the AAC, LFI, staff and residents all need from the beginning. That is respect for our farmers. More bylaw officers, who are all trained to address agriculture issues, fines that actually matter, and follow up until the problem is resolved. Writing a ticket and never following up doesn't resolve the problem. I support dedicated rural enforcement, so officers know areas, the properties, and the repeat problems.

Well first we need clear boundaries. As we develop lands, as we move and as we expand, we have to expand slowly and in consultation which is actually a great moment that we're in right now because our rural plan is desperately needing an update And because of the changes from the provincial government that requires anything that's compliant to the OCP applications that go in don't need public hearings. So we've seen a lot of times that applications will go in and the neighborhood feels like they're left behind because they don't feel like they have a say anymore. But we're in this moment where we can come together collaborate and have a say over what the rural lands will look like. For the next 30, 40, 50 years or even 100. We have to do this well and in collaboration with our farming community there are many things farming practices have changed drastically over the last 30 years. So there are innovations and efficiencies that we can find and encourage through our updated rural plan. Now when I said boundaries this is important because as we're developing our suburban urban areas we need to have appropriate barriers whether it's environmental … landscaping barriers and like so that there is a transition between our urban centers and the farmland. We need to do this well. We need to be careful, but ultimately, we have to plan clearly and communicate with the public. Thank you.

Stricter requirements for use of allowable trucks, must be related to on-site AG updated Rural Plan.

Stricter requirements for use of allowable trucks, must be related to on-site agricultural uses. Updated Rural Plan. Ensure that the updated plan reflects farming practices and uses of today allowing farmers to innovate and market their goods. Additionally ensure that appropriate buffers and uses are reinforced to create the transition of urban to rural lands.

Update Rural Plan with LOTS of public input from all affected parties. Reduce large parcel subdivision on ALR land (keep big remaining farms at same size). More law enforcement and fines. Find suitable parking areas NOT on ALR areas.

1. GIVE COMMITTEE A CLEAR SAY IN WHAT THEIR ROLE SHOULD BE. 2. UPDATE AAC T. of R. accordingly. 3. Council should consult with AAC more often.

Commercial truck parking is actively being enforced and 11 new bylaw officers. LETS keep this going. Lets review the effectiveness of existing penalties. Update the Rural Plan to provide the clear rules, create a level playing field and protect farmland.

Rural Plan Update; enforcement and provide alternative to trucks. Include truckers and farmers to the table.

Update Rural Plan. Give enforcement powers to farm commission. Ensure farmland stays farmland. Update community charter to give more tools to the municipality.

Well, I think it's important to keep our urban, … our rural areas in our urban areas and keep it separate from rural. I'm sorry, I'm nervous and I can't think. What I bring, Thank you everyone. Thanks for your mercy. [The moderator repeated the question.] Okay, so it's really important to keep our high density on our corridors, like 200th Street and keep our rural land protected. And by doing that, we can keep that separated. But important with our rural land is keeping agricultural land is all rules the same for everybody. So that farmers get to farm the way they need to farm, that we can bring agriculture back like 4-H and we can do things to grow more crops and that. Because over 70% of our land in Langley is rural and it's important to keep it rural. Thank you.

Revise the Rural Plan, enforce the bylaws.

The Rural Plan cannot be written in a backroom. It needs public process and input of the LFI, and the AAC, and especially farmers of many sites and specialities. The people that farm the land bring expertise and residents and farmers need a formal role. The plan should be built with farmers not just presented to them. Truck parking; we need to protect the soil and streams at all cost. We need to enforce bylaws and give them teeth. We can't allow the "turning of a blind eye" to this problem. Our soil and water and food security depends on it

THE AAC — WHERE TWP. HAS A DECISION TO MAKE RE: FARMLAND, IT SHOULD BE HAVING WEIGH-IN FROM THE AAC. IT ALSO NEEDS A MEANINGFUL ROLE IN THE RURAL PLAN. WE NEED TO ASK THE MEMBERS AND MANDATE WHAT WOULD ALLOW THE MOST EFFECTIVE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE AAC. AAC MEMBERS ARE EXPERIENCED AND WE NEED TO RESPECT AND CLARIFY THEIR ROLE.

Rural plan 30 years old/outdated, must be updated. Include farmers that require edgewater provisions. Direct to non ALR Fraser Hwy employment lands; press province for 264, Abbotsford solutions.

Update Rural Plan very soon. Enforce bylaws including no truck parking. Create truck parking options along highway 1 corridor. Re do the Agriculture Viability Strategy.

the AAC should be regularly consulted on agriculture related business/decisions that come to Council - with appropriate timelines for staff or Council feedback. They should be a required body for ag consultation