Part 1: PEC Backs Farm Innovation Project and Advances Zoning Review Discussion — 10/16/2023

The Agricultural Advisory Committee met virtually on October 16, 2023, with the session livestreamed and recorded. The meeting started with a few audio issues, but these were resolved before things moved forward. Once underway, the agenda was confirmed without changes, there were no disclosures of pecuniary interest, and the minutes from the August 21, 2023 meeting were approved with a small amendment. With those formal steps complete, the committee moved into the main discussions.

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Zoning bylaw review presentation

The central focus of the meeting was a presentation from Michael Michaud, who gave an overview of the county wide zoning bylaw review. He explained that the current zoning bylaw, which dates back to 2006, no longer reflects today’s planning standards, evolving agricultural practices, or the county’s updated Official Plan. Under the Planning Act, the municipality is required to update its zoning bylaw within three years of adopting a new Official Plan, making this review both necessary and time sensitive. Michaud also walked through the public engagement already completed, which has included community meetings, surveys, and input from agricultural and business groups across the county.

A large part of the discussion focused specifically on agricultural zoning and how it may change moving forward. Michaud pointed to ongoing challenges with the existing RU and RR zones, including the high number of exception zones that can make regulations harder to interpret and apply consistently. The goal of the review is to move toward clearer AG based zoning, while still allowing flexibility where needed. Another key topic was on farm diversified uses, with an emphasis on finding the right balance between supporting new income opportunities for farmers and avoiding land use conflicts with non farm activities. Committee members raised questions about survey participation, minimum lot sizes, the protection of prime agricultural land, and how farming will continue in areas identified for future urban growth.

Deputation on the Home and Farm Initiative

The meeting also included a deputation from Brian Hart of Kate’s Rest Foundation, who introduced the Home and Farm Initiative. The proposal combines aquaponic farming, skills training, and affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness or poverty. Hart explained how aquaponics works as a system, highlighting its ability to produce food year round while using less water and making use of marginal land.

He also referenced a previous pilot project studied by Queen’s University, which showed positive outcomes in terms of mental health, well being, and community connection among participants. The initiative is looking to expand through partnerships and grant funding, and the committee was asked to provide a letter of support to help strengthen those applications.

Committee decisions and motions

Following discussion, the committee voted in favour of requesting that the Mayor provide a letter of support for the initiative, signaling clear backing for the project at the advisory level. Beyond this, members also talked about the Guardian Network program, a free training opportunity, and agreed that it should be promoted more widely through county communications. Additional conversation touched on agriculture related signage, planning files with limited agricultural impact, and how the committee should prioritize its work moving forward. As part of that, the zoning bylaw review was formally added to the committee’s work plan, alongside a recommendation to strengthen youth engagement efforts and outreach.

Overall, the meeting centered on two main themes: the long term impact of zoning changes on agricultural land, and the role of local initiatives in supporting food security and community well being. Both discussions point to ongoing work rather than immediate changes, but they set the direction for what the committee will continue focusing on in the months ahead.

Key Takeaways

1. The zoning bylaw rewrite will significantly affect agricultural lands, especially in how farming and related uses are defined and regulated.

   
   

2. The committee formally supported the Home and Farm Initiative, helping move forward a local project focused on food security and housing.

   
   

3. Future work will focus on zoning changes and youth engagement, with more attention on communication and outreach.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:12:05. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.