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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-05-09Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington Meeting Minutes Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Microsoft Teams or Meeting Room 1 C, Municipal Administrative Centre 40 Temperance St., Bowmanville, Ontario Members Present: Tom Barrie (Vice -Chair), Eric Bowman, Brenda Metcalf, Councillor Zwart, John Cartwright, Craig Rickard Regrets: Henry Zekveld (Chair), Richard Rekker, Jennifer Knox, Ryan Cullen, Jordan McKay, Mitch Morawetz (DRFA) Staff Present: Sylvia Jennings, Jane Wang — Planning and Infrastructure Services Guests: Allison De Vos — Invest Durham, Martin Straathof — Ontario Farmland Trust 1. Welcome and Introductions T. Barrie welcomed all to the meeting, with introductions. 2. Land Acknowledgement Statement T. Barrie recited Clarington's Land Acknowledgement Statement. 3. Declarations of Interest None 4. Approval of Minutes of March 14, 2024 In the absence of quorum, approval of the March 14, 2024 meeting minutes was deferred to the June 13, 2024 meeting. 5. Presentations / Delegations 5a. Presentation on the Ontario Farmland Trust — Martin Straathof M. Straathof provided a presentation on the Ontario Farmland Trust (OFT). The program is a charitable non-profit that was created in 2004 after University of Guelph researchers noted the alarming rate of farmland loss (currently 319 acres/day). The OFT protects farmland and educates the public on the issue. M. Straathof described challenges contributing to farmland loss including competing land uses, increasing land prices, aging demographics of farmers, consolidation of farm parcels, and a lack of agricultural land use planners. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 9, 2024 The OFT has protected 24 properties so far and is expecting to protect an additional eight this year including the first property in Clarington. Properties are primarily protected using farmland conservation easements, which are a legal instrument that is placed on the title of the land to ensure it will be used for farming purposes in perpetuity. The land remains in ownership by the farmer and can be sold, but it can't be developed in the future and must remain as farmland. The OFT finances the process to put in place the easement, and the owner is given a charitable receipt based on the change in assessed value from the easement. The OFT was recently donated a property to manage, which they're using to start a land access program that provides opportunities for new farmers and a pathway into agriculture for those without access to land. The OFT also supports agricultural preserves, such as the Duffins Rouge Agricultural Preserve, which involve multiple stakeholders and special policies to create a larger area that supports the overall agricultural system. M. Straathof answered questions from the Committee. He explained that the easements protect the land from development and rezoning including MZOs but does not protect the land from being expropriated. The upfront costs of setting up an easement are approximately $50,000 and include legal fees, surveyors, appraisers and a stewardship fund to ensure the easement can be managed in the future. Committee members were encouraged to reach out at martin ontariofarmlandtrust.ca if they have additional questions. T. Barrie thanked M. Straathof for his presentation. 5b. Delegation on Railway on Damage to Drainage Ditches from Railway Maintenance — Don Rickard D. Rickard delegated to the Committee concerning a recent issue he experienced at a farm he's renting near Bennett Road and the CNR tracks. The farm has a tile drainage system that empties into a drain running along the tracks. When the railway crossing was upgraded eight years ago, landscaping resulted in the tile drainage outlet being buried and the field is subsequently flooding. D. Rickard noted that there was no consultation with the landowner prior to the work. He has reached out to municipal officials and CNR. M. Zwart reported that she will reach out to CNR as well to encourage consultation. 6. Business Arising from Previous Meeting 6a. Rural Traffic Infrastructure Consultation S. Jennings reported that Durham Region has not yet provided details on the consultation procedure. Durham Region Public Works has committed to presenting to the Committee in the fall. 7. Correspondence, Council Items and Referrals S. Jennings shared the following for information: • Memo: OFA on Stormwater Management fees and a letter from Minister Lisa Thompson Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 9, 2024 • Notice of Clarinaton 2024 Rural Road Work • Provincial Consultation on new proposed Provincial Planning Statement • Provincial Consultation on Rural Economic Development Strategy 8. Liaison Reports 8a. Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee — T. Barrie T. Barrie provided the update. Ryan Cullen from the Four Farms Market Garden Training presented to the group and reported that 100 people signed up for the first year of the training. The GGHFFA discussed stormwater management fees. They are also seeking new junior farmers as members are aging out. Brock is proposing backyard chicken permissions. DAAC passed a motion not supporting the initiative. Ag 101 is continuing to be rolled out to local councils. Local area municipalities are launching their official plan reviews. 8b. Durham Region Federation of Agriculture No update. 8c. Durham Farm Connections — B. Metcalf B. Metcalf provided the update. The Grade 3 program ran over three days with 1200 students and 120 volunteers. The Celebrate Ag Gala will be on October 25' at the Royal Ashburn. A Barn Quilt Trail brochure is now available with the current list of participants. The Orono Times is running features on the different quilts each week. Historical photos of local agriculture are being collected to create a digital online picture gallery. Anyone with photos is encouraged to share them to info durhamfarmconnections.ca. 8d. Durham Agricultural Economic Development Update — A. De Vos A. De Vos provided an update. Work done through the Committee's OFDU subcommittee is being used to update the Official Plans for Scugog, Brock and Uxbridge to allow more OFDUs and agricultural -related uses as of right. The work is expected to be completed by the end of 2024 and may be replicated in other jurisdictions. The Region is working with Durham College and the National Research Council to train tech companies in agriculture with the goal of producing new agri-tech products within the next 12 months. Precision agriculture field day will be on May 28t" in partnership with Durham Farm Connections. 9. Date of Next Meeting June 13, 2024 11. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 9, 2024