HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-08-21 MinutesCLARINGTON AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008
MEMBERS PRESENT
: Tom Barrie
Eric Bowman
Brenda Metcalf
Donald Rickard
Councillor Gord Robinson
Ted Watson
STAFF
: Faye Langmaid
Lisa Backus
Mitch Morawetz
REGRETS:
Henk Mulders
Ross McMaster
ABSENT:
Mark Bragg
Orwin Bandstra
Gary Jeffery
Jennifer Knox
Mary Ann Found
Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Adoption of Agenda
08-17
Moved by Eric Bowman, seconded by Donald Rickard
”That the Agenda for August 21st, 2008 be adopted”
Carried
Approval of Minutes
08-18
Moved byTed Watson, seconded by Eric Bowman
“That the minutes of the June 12th, 2008 meeting be approved.”
Carried
Guests: Lisa Backus
Lisa provided an overview of the Official Plan process (see attached presentation). The
items discussed during the presentation were:
School Board calculations—have changed over the years, the Minsitry of Education has
a minimum size for schools at about 400 pupils. At this size there are many
neighbourhoods that do not have sufficient children to warrant a school and that has
created great challenges for planning school locations. Developers have to hold school
lands for a minimum amount of time (3-5 yrs) if the school board does not acquire the
lands then the developer can rezone them. This often comes as surprise to many of the
residents who bought with the assumption that there would be a school. The School
Board is one of the agencies that Planning will consult throughout the Official Plan
process.
MDS only works one way, it should work both ways and provide a buffer for residences
to stay away from agricultural uses. The province does not require this and it is difficult
to have developers agree to “sterilize” this amount of land without compensating them.
The Planning Department has been trying for hard boundaries between subdivisions
(roads and other physical barriers rather than lot lines).
Pesticides are going to be a major problem for the agricultural community, given the
new provincial legislation because of perception problems. Is there anyway that some
of the potential issues can be addressed in the Official Plan?
Traffic patterns in the agricultural community especially near urban are a major issue
and will only continue to get worse. The new build at Darlington with all the workers
coming in will cause major issues in certain areas of the Municipality.
The Region has gone from 2 levels of Agriculture (general and prime) to one level in
their Official Plan policies. They are calling it prime but the description is that of
general, as in the uses are broader than what prime previously were. Clarington will
have to bring it’s agricultural lands into conformity, this means that there will be a
reduction in agricultural lands by about 7,500 acres. It will also affect the definition that
Clarington uses for prime ag lands. Much of these changes are in response to the
Greenbelt Plan. Faye will bring map to next meeting.
Questions for the committee to ponder:
a) farming support policies and incentives---things like stewardship grants through
CA’s, buy local campaign, farmers’ market, agri-tourism strategy (marketing, etc)
Are there others?
b) second family dwelling on farm---policy no longer makes sense in today’s
farming culture with automated systems, larger farm units, also because house
cannot be separated the investment in the cost of the house cannot be realized
when farm is sold (retirement lots have already been wiped out)
What are people’s thoughts?
c) Bunkhouses for seasonal employees as an accessory use, intensive operations
that require seasonal workers are often smaller farm units, greenhouses in
Clarington are all less than 50 acre parcels
Does this make sense?
d) Golf Courses- currently allowed in agricultural lands but not on the Moraine,
should they be more restricted on the Lake Iroquois shoreline?…They are
allowed in Green space and Waterfront Greenway. Add policies that set out
AACC Aug 21st, 2008
criteria for how they are to be developed, Audubon Society and other
environmental registrations.
What are your thoughts?
e) Rural brownfields-conversion to solar farms, bio-fuels, etc.
Are there other uses?
f) Private hunt and fish clubs in countryside are an acceptable use under
recreation/tourism.
Are there other uses? Paintball?
Business Arising from Minutes
Orono Fair display Mitch will take care of putting it up and removing it.
Reports from Committees
DAAC
The DAAC Tour will be September 16 this year. The tour will start at Whitefeather
Farms. Get your RRSP in.
Other Business
Viticulture-minutes of meeting with National Research Council and Climatology experts
were distributed. Meeting was very interesting. Dr. Tony Shaw is submitting a proposal
to Marlene and Faye, research would be useful for more than just viticulture, it would be
useful for climate change and specialty crops that may be grown along the lakeshore.
Emphasis of this proposal is from an agri-tourism perspective and value-added.
Future Agendas
October TSH/MTO regarding 407 (Faye will send out map with minutes)
November ½ Loads, MTO Enforcement will attend (handout from Highway Traffic Act
was distributed at meeting).
Motion to Adjourn, Eric Carried
AACC Aug 21st, 2008