Dan Ferguson

Times Reporter

Later this week, Township residents will get their chance to comment on a proposed $2.7 million, 20-year plan to boost agricultural activity and reduce conflict between urban neighbourhoods and nearby farms.

An open house on the Agricultural Viability Strategy (AVS) will be held on Thursday, April 18, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on the fourth floor of the Township civic facility at 20338 65 Ave.

The 101-page AVS was developed by a 10-member task force.

It proposes a four-part plan to provide a 鈥渨elcoming business environment for farming,鈥� services to encourage 鈥渁gri-industrial hubs鈥� that would process locally grown food within 91原创, measures to create a secure agricultural land base, and rules to ensure 鈥渂est farm management practices鈥� are used by local farmers.

Among the suggested 34 initiatives, 86 policies and 85 actions are the creation of a farmers鈥� institute to represent agricultural interests, regulations requiring notifying home buyers when 鈥渢he use of their properties may be impacted by normal farm practices鈥� and incentives to encourage food processors to build plants in 91原创 to process locally-grown food.

Agriculture occupies more than three-quarters of the Township鈥檚 316 square kilometres and 91原创 has one-half of all the farms operating in Metro Vancouver

A staff report to council calls the $2.7 million cost of the AVS a 鈥渞elatively small investment鈥� for an industry that generates more than $277 million annually.

A Township survey of more than 1,400 91原创 residents conducted for the AVS shows that farming is 鈥渧ery鈥� or 鈥渟omewhat鈥� important to 95 per cent of urban and 96 per cent of rural respondents.

The written announcement of the open house by the Township notes that the event is not intended to deal with propane cannon use, an issue another task force has been discussing.

Following the open house, the plan will come back to council for a vote on approval and implementation.