A controversial cattle feedlot in a largely residential area of Gordon Head could be dealt with by a “one-time deviation” from Saanich’s procedures for Agricultural Land Reserve property, says Saanich Coun. Fred Haynes.
Haynes brought the simmering issue to council chambers Monday night because neighbours of the feedlot, which has been in operation since 2013, are frustrated with odours coming from the 1.64-hectare Mount Douglas Cross Road site. There are about 24 cattle on the property.
An overflow crowd of about 130 packed council chambers for Monday’s committee of the whole meeting.
“There’s widespread community concern about the current use,” Haynes said before the meeting. “So the primary aim of bringing this forward [is] to hear from the public, hear from the proponents, hear from concerned citizens and let council do a re-evaluation of where we are.
“My concern would be that we would go through another summer of an intensive cattle lot … which is detrimental to the neighbourhood.”
The Alberg family, owners of the land in question since 1945, has been seeking rezoning for a residential subdivision, but Saanich policy has been not to proceed in such cases until the Agricultural Land Commission removes the property from the ALR. That has not happened.
The land is currently zoned residential, but the Albergs would like a change to increase the allowed density.
After becoming frustrated with delays, the Albergs decided to establish the feedlot. Previous farming activities such as raising chickens, grazing cattle and growing fruit trees had been phased out by 2005.
The family is worried it could lose its ALR designation and then not have the rezoning go through, Don Alberg said, leaving it unable to farm or develop the property. To address that concern, Haynes suggested Saanich depart from usual practice and consider the current rezoning application before an ALR exclusion. “This is an opportunity to look at an alternate approach, to put the land-use decision, whether it’s cows or houses, to one side and just deal with this as a zoning application.”
Jinx Barber, who lives next door to the Albergs, said she supports Haynes’ plan because Saanich has put the family in an “impossible” situation. She also said it’s hard to enjoy her yard because of odours from the feedlot. “In the last few years it’s really been very dismaying.”
Alberg said Haynes’ proposal is “a way forward.”
“It certainly instils some confidence with the family in the district council,” he said. “This has been going on for pretty near a decade.”
Haynes said he does not believe his proposal would create a precedent for other ALR land, because the zoning situation is unique: Its current residential zoning does not allow agricultural use, while its ALR designation provides a right to farm.
The Saanich meeting was still in progress late Monday.
