Letter to the City on behalf of Mt Lehman & Bradner

7/30/2017

Source - The Abbotsford News

Dear Mayor Braun, I am not offering up any new information on land extractions, or your deliberations tomorrow. So you ought to be able to read this without disqualifying your impartiality.

Tomorrow - July 31, 2017 council has to make a difficult decision. The fate of many that live in our two communities, rests on your decision. Your wisdom.

I thought you might find the meeting at the Mt Lehman Community Hall on June 16, 2007 interesting. It is not new information regarding anything you directly vote on tomorrow. So probably OK for your eyes to read. This meeting, pictured above was Chaired by Mayor George Ferguson. Cherry Groves and I organized this meeting.

Seated at the head table, are also councillors John Smith; Lynne Harris; and I think Patricia Ross. Attending for the APD is I believe Rick Lucy. (A straight up guy who was held in tremendous respect by our two communities, Mt Lehman & Bradner, while with the APD).

Seated at the right is Cherry Groves. (After 40 years, Cherry ought to be listened to in our community) Standing at the right is myself.

The many meetings in that era were conducted in the offices of George Ferguson. I could pick up the phone at any time, and speak to George. Truly a wonderful man in so many ways.

I think we have lost that resonance in our communities with the City of Abbotsford. It does not have to be this way. There are many many talented people up here who could contribute. But I am not aware of ANYONE from our two communities that has the ear of council. Too bad.

Many of the issues, zoning, land use, land compliance, traffic, still bedevil our lands out here in the Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR). Irrespective of "Area A" and "Area B".

So tomorrow is a big test for council.

I am not too hopeful. That is because of, other than attending required open houses, I am not aware of any ongoing real, open, and honest dialogue between council and North West Abbotsford.

So tomorrow, a big day. Either all our fears confirmed, or perhaps our council will surprise our two communities.

A former councillor, famously told me at council, sometime around 2008, that they had to consider, all the needs of Abbotsford, 'the greater good', not just those of existing residents that live in North West Abbotsford.

I didn't accept that response then and I do not accept it now.

I expect the councillors we elect, to firstly consider the needs of those that live in the various communities of Abbotsford, and not get thrown under the bus 'by the greater good' - which I deem as a blandishments for throwing people under the bus.

So forgive me Mayor Braun, for being so frank on a warm, lovely Sunday afternoon.

But as I sit in my backyard and enjoy a beautiful day in Mt Lehman, I am as much concerned about the welfare of our two country communities of Bradner and Mt Lehman, (NOT city communities), today, as I was 10 years ago.

I hope wisdom prevails tomorrow.

Jeremy Croll
Mt Lehman

ALR Exclusion Vote

Monday, July 31st, 2017 @ 7 pm the City of Abbotsford councillors will vote on whether or not to forward an application to remove 699 acres of ALR land to the Agriculture Land Commission (ALC). This Public Hearing follows a Executive Committee meeting held at 3 pm on the same day.

The City Manager and Planning Dept. have recommended that the exclusion of these properties (totalling 699 acres) be forwarded to the ALC. Council can vote 'Yes' or 'NO' or also vote on an alternative.

Recommendations

The General Manager and City Manager are recommending THAT Council forward and application for the exclusion of Special Study Area A and modified Area B identified in Report No. PDS 124-2017, from the Agricultural Land Reserve, to the Agricultural Land Commission, with support.

Issue Summary

The City of Abbotsford is considering submitting an ALR exclusion application for 115 properties with a total parcel area of 288 hectares or 699 acres. Prior to the application being forwarded to the ALC, it must first be considered by council.

The report, which is not available online - summarizes and highlights key Industrial Land Supply Study project findings and public engagement events completed to date. The project was undertaken to provide a
comprehensive overview of the Lower Mainland's and Abbotsford's existing industrial inventory and to determine anticipated future demand and opportunities as the city grows towards a population of 200,000 people envisioned in the City's 2016 revised Official Community Plan.

Staff is recommending that council support exclusion of Special Study Area A and modified B from the ALR consisting of 115 parcels with a total area 288 hectares.

The Development Advisory Committee (DAC) recommended support for exclusion of the entire Special Study Area A, and the western portion of Special Study Area B.

The Agriculture, Dyking, Drainage and Irrigation Advisory Committee (ADDIAC) recommended support for Special Study Areas A and B in their entirety.

Council may consider one of the following options with regards to this application:

a) forward the application to the ALC with support, as per the staff recommendation;

b) alter the staff recommended areas (i.e. DAC recommendation or other) and forward
the application to the ALC with support; or

c) deny the application.