Langley Township land plan blocked
Agricultural Land Commission says no to proposal for 180 hectares of ‘prime farmland’
Langley Township’s plans for a huge university district on protected agricultural land have been effectively turfed by the Agricultural Land Commission.
The commission, which controls farmland in the province’s agricultural reserve, says that the proposed 180-hectare site is composed of “prime farmland,” rendering it unsuitable for the Township’s purposes.
“Most of the land proposed for non-farm designation has agricultural capability and is appropriately designated as Agricultural Land Reserve,” the commission said in its Oct. 16 report.
During the summer the township floated an ambitious proposal to surround Trinity Western University with a “university district” measuring nearly half the size of UBC.
Plans included educational, commercial and residential components for the site, which is located south of Highway 1 near Glover Road.
But the proposal was slammed by Metro Vancouver, which threatened legal action over its encroachment into the region’s protected green zone.
Harold Steves, a Richmond councillor who is vice-chair of Metro’s planning and agriculture committee, said the “barn door” should “be shut” on the township’s plans.
“It’s time Langley stopped looking at agricultural lands for the university,” he said.“University expansions can go up in the city with green roofs on top, as we are doing in Richmond.”
Although the township believed it was supported by the commission, Mayor Jack Froese said the township will have to alter its plans in light of the new information.
He believes a smaller university district will be brought forward by council on two agricultural parcels that have the commission’s approval but not Metro’s.
“The university district is a priority. We’re still working on it,” said Froese.
“I don’t know why they call it prime farmland. There’s streams and hills. You could level it all with heavy equipment, but it’s marginal. I couldn’t say it’s prime,” he said.
Farm supporter Doug McFee says the ruling was good for farming interests and the fish that depend on the nearby Salmon River.
“The township has been mistaken about the value of this farmland. It’s not an appropriate place for things like residential development,” McFee said.
“It’s a sign that the agricultural commission is starting to be more conservationist about protecting things.”