Whereas events can support the feasibility of farming in BC; And whereas current Agricultural Land Reserve ALR Use Regulations are permitting events that hinder farming, and further local regulation is hindered by large geographic areas and limited resources, especially in Regional Districts: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask the Agricultural Land Commission ALC to work with local governments to update event rules to ensure that farming is the primary use of ALR Lands, and that events avoid disruption of farming activities on nearby parcels, considering changes including but not limited to: - number of permitted events aligned to parcel size; - stronger criteria for confirming farming is the primary use of a parcel; and - ability of local governments to restrict events on a parcel in response to complaints from neighbouring properties.
Agricultural Land Commission The ALR Use Regulation permits events in the ALR, both farm and non-farm related, subject to certain requirements, provided in all cases, there are no permanent structures or facilities constructed or erected in connection with said event. These provisions were intended to provide ancillary economic opportunities, for farmers whose primary activity is farming. The Commission shares the concerns expressed in this resolution that under the guise of agri-tourism, commercial tourism is becoming the primary business focus on many ALR properties and over-sized structures, incorrectly described as farm structures are being built in the ALR for events of all types, even though permanent structures and facilities for events are not permitted. Without limits on these uses, there is significant risk of overdevelopment and sterilization of farmland for commercial uses that out-compete primary farm production and contribute to the notion that event facilities are permitted in the ALR. Compliance and enforcement of events based on scale and duration is also challenging for the ALC and local governments and residents and farm operations adjacent to properties hosting events under these provisions often have no recourse for dealing with the impacts associated with living near these event facilities noise, increased traffic, general lack of compatibility with active farming operations, etc.. In some cases, these conflicts have a direct negative impact on surrounding farm operations. For example, fireworks causing dairy cattle to stampede and injure themselves, and reduced egg production in laying hens due to late night music and noise. In 2018, the Minister of Agricultures independent committee on Revitalizing the Agricultural Land Reserve and the Agricultural Land Commission recommended legislative change to enable local and First Nation Governments to prohibit gathering for events, including events held at alcohol production facilities and events billed as an agri-tourism activity by by-law. The Commission endorsed this recommendation and while the Commission has no authority with respect to the development and adoption of Provincial legislation, we would welcome the opportunity to work with local governments and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food on amendments to the event rules to ensure that farming is the primary use of ALR land. Anyone can own land in the ALR in BC, and the pressure to build more and do more than just farm in the ALR continues to escalate in all regions of the province. Interpretation of the regulations by those who wish to do more than permitted in the ALR is pushing the value of land beyond the reach of those who want to farm and is cumulatively consuming vast tracts of land that can no longer be farmed and is contributing the decline in the number of farms and farmers in BC.