The B.C. NDP government鈥檚 crackdown on additional housing and business uses in the Agricultural Land Reserve has brought further calls from farmers that what they need is flexibility in keeping farms in business.
Agriculture Minister Lana Popham got an earful of feedback on agricultural housing restrictions this spring, in a consultation that followed farmer protests last fall. Popham鈥檚 focus has been getting non-farm business and residential use off farmland, after she eliminated the B.C. Liberal government鈥檚 two-zone land reserve that allowed more business use.
The ministry鈥檚 efforts to crack down on construction waste and 鈥渕ega-mansions鈥� resulted in regulatory retreats after going too far, such as requiring costly permits for gravelling roads to keep them passable. And the housing crackdown has produced another do-over.
The ministry鈥檚 first response to a summary report released Sept. 4 is an extension of the 鈥済randfathering period鈥� of manufactured homes on farmland. It now extends until July 31, 2021, to allow time to develop new regulations.
鈥淟andowners in the ALR will have until then to obtain the required permits and authorizations to place a manufactured residence for immediate family on their property, without having to apply to the Agricultural Land Commission,鈥� the ministry said in a statement.
Currently only mobile or modular housing is allowed for immediate family members, but farmers are saying they need more options. The ministry consulted local governments and 鈥減eople who identify as farmers,鈥� as the report describes them.
鈥淢any suggest that the tough realities of farming make other income streams necessary to support farm production and make a farm more resilient to tough economic conditions,鈥� the ministry summary says. 鈥淭he ability to have rental properties is seen as a way to assist in this.鈥�
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The ministry asked local governments about applications for 鈥済arden suite, guest house or carriage suite,鈥� as well as 鈥減ermitting a new permanent residence to be built in addition to the manufactured home that is the principal residence.鈥� Some communities support all four and others would allow none.
The potential of 鈥渢iny homes鈥� and 鈥測urts鈥� for farm worker housing was also discussed, with local governments suggesting any structures should comply with B.C.鈥檚 building code.
Most responding local governments said they would not prohibit additional homes on farmland. Asked which type of additional small residences, suggestions included allowing only single-family homes and making sure secondary residences aren鈥檛 used as short-term rentals. That could be done by requiring that secondary homes are close to the primary residence.
The ministry received 257 responses to its from individual farmers and associations, some calling for flexible housing options for farms. Suggestions included regulations that allow two dwellings without an application to the Agricultural Land Commission, and 鈥渟tick build鈥� options rather than the current rule that only manufactured homes can be used as second residences.
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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