Save Our Soil

Tell Richmond council you support them in making strong regulations to protect Richmond’s irreplaceable, invaluable soil. Our long term food security depends on it.

The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) was formed in 1973 to protect the 5% of BC land suitable for agriculture, for agriculture, NOT as a land bank for development.  Large mansions on farmland drive up property prices to the point where it would be impossible for a farmer to make a living.  Last year council made great progress in limiting the size of homes allowed on ALR properties to ~10,000 square feet.  Now that bylaw is being revisited, and we have a chance to get those house sizes down even more.

Complete this survey by February 18 to add your voice.

Not sure how to answer?  These answers will help Save Our Soil:

1. Maximum farm home plate? Other. 1000 m2
2. Septic system within farm home plate? Yes.
3. Limit house footprint? Yes.
4. Increase house height? No.
5. Reduce house size for properties 0.2 ha or larger? Yes.
6. Appropriate limit for farm house size? Either 5,382sq.ft.  or Other: 3,200 ft2 (300 m2)
7. What should other levels of government do? Some examples:

• Apply the foreign buyers’ tax to farmland
• Strengthen the ALR
• Stop farmland speculation
• Help new farmers get into farming
• Discourage land investors from buying up farms
• Step up Agricultural Land Commission enforcement
• Clarify that ALR houses are required to be for farm use

Want more info?  Come to an open house:

• Feb 7th, 2-5 pm at City Hall
• Feb 8th, 5-8 pm at City Hall
• February 15th, 5-8pm at East Richmond Community Hall