Crystal Gotto
From: LisaCoburn Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 2:12 PM To: admin Cc: Sydney Uhlmann Subject: FW:PAAC: Farmlands Trust Attachments: Farmland Trust CRFAIRJan 25.pdl; excerpt Nov 10 2016 mins.doc
HiCrystal, Would you please log in the email, and print it and the attachments and add to tomorrow’s mail folder. Thank you,
LisaCoburn IDeputy Clerk District of North Saanich 1620 MillsRd North Saanich BCV8L I I 5S9 T 250-655-5458 F 250-655-5489 I www.northsaanich.ca I
From: Crystal Gotto On Behalf Of admin Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 1:49 PM To: Curt Kingsley
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected] Sent: Wednesday, January 25, 2017 9:06 AM To: Bob Maxwell
Greetings:
Attached please find a letter in support of creating an agricultural land bank to be held in trust by the municipalities within the CRD. Keeley Nixon, CRFair, attended the November 10, 2016 PAAC meeting to elaborate on this initiative, and an excerpt ofthe minutes is attached.
Regards D1D lsobel Hoffmann v1,, DO< Recording Secretary, PAAC q > I
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1 Peninsula & Area Agricultural Commission
do Saanich Municipal Hall 770 Vernon Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V8X2W7 Telephone: (250) 475-1 775 Fax: (250) 475-5440 Secretary: lsobel Hoffmann, [email protected] Co-Chairs: Bob Maxwell & Jack Mar
January25, 2017
Capital Region Food &Agriculture Initiatives Roundtable Society (CRFAIR) P0 Box 46002 Quadra Victoria, BC V81 5G7
Attention: Keeley Nixon, CRFAIR Farmland Access Coordinator
Greetings:
Re: Farmland Trust
Thank you, Keeley, for your presentation to the Peninsula & Area Agricultural Commission (PAAC) at its meeting on November 10, 2016 regarding the importance of farmland access and the strategy to create an agricultural land bank to be held in trust by the Municipalities within the CRD. Sincere apologies for the delay in providing a formal response.
PAAC unanimously supported this initiative and the statement proposed (see below). A motion was passed to that effect, noting that it was an option worth exploring for the Capital Region. We understand that the District of Saanich is already taking steps in this direction and is developing an Agriculture & Food Security Strategy. An excerpt of the Minutes is attached for your information.
The CRFAIR statement supported is as follows:
We the undersigned understand that farmers’ access to land is impacting the agricultural sector. With high land costs in the region ($7O-100,000 per acre), predicted population growth (30% between 2010 — 2036), increasing land use competition, and declining rates of new entrants into agriculture (5.6% under 35, average age 57), we recognize a diverse suite of strategies to steward and utilize farmland is crucially needed.
We acknowledge CRFAIR as a reputable catalyst organization working in the area of food security and believe in their mandate to explore realistic land options in the Capital Regional District.
. .12 CRFAIR — Farmland Trust January 25, 2017 Page 2 of 2
We recognize and sign this statement of support acknowledging that creating a land bank for existing and/or acquired lands to support farming and food production over the long term is one strategy to address land access issues. We endorse the exploration of implementing a land bank as a hallmark initiative in the larger context of agricultural land access and protection as articulated in the CRD Regional Food and Agricultural Strategy.
Thank you for taking the time to bring this important issue before PAAC. We would appreciate being kept up to date on the progress of this initiative.
Ifwe can be of further assistance, please let us know.
Yours sincerely,
Bob Maxwell and Jack Mar, Co-Chairs Peninsula &Area Agricultural Commission attachment (excerpt November 10 2016 minutes) cc: CouncillorVic Derman, Saanich Councillor Chris Graham, Central Saanich Councillor Murray Weisenberger, North Saanich Councillor Cam McLellan, Sidney Robin Tunnicliffe &Anne Richmond, Metchosin Representatives Derek Masselink, District Agrologist
Member Municipalities: Districts of Saanich, Central Saanich, North Saanich & Town of Sidney