|
May 25, 2000, Airdrie, Alberta & May 26, 2000, Ft. Saskatchewan, Alberta
Action For Agriculture participated in the Agriculture Land Use Meetings as part of the Ag Summit 2000 discussions held around the province recently. These meetings were organized to examine the important issues of land use and farmland protection in the Province of Alberta. Discussion topics included:
- Right to Farm legislation
- Fragmentation of agricultural land
- Smart-planning and managed growth
- Tools and incentives
- Societies obligation
- Living in the shadow
For more information visit the Ag Summit Report on Land Use Issues Workshops page
March 23, 2000, Calgary, Alberta
Action For Agriculture made a presentation at the Alberta Institute of Agrologists Convention held in Calgary today. The issue of the impact of urban sprawl on agriculture was received by more than half of the delegates present. To see some statistics that should be of concern to all members of society click here
March 23, 2000, Edmonton, Alberta
Action For Agriculture made a presentation at the Board of Directors meeting for the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties in Edmonton. The participants were informed as to the activities of Action For Agriculture, and an appeal for support in developing enabling legislation, a provincial conference and to join a committee in this regard were made.
March 15, 2000, Exshaw, Alberta
Action For Agriculture participated in a meeting held today with the M.D. of Big Horn, towns of Cochrane, Canmore and Banff to discuss land use issues in these areas.
1999
November 22, 1999, Calgary, Alberta
Action For Agriculture appeared before Council today at the Muncipal District of Rocky View to present comments on the Draft Business Plan and Budget for next year.
Council was encouraged to make land use planning decisions which reflect the goal of limiting fragmentation and premature conversion of agricultural land to other uses. The benefits to the M.D. and to the province of a sustainable agricultural industry were reiterated. It was pointed out that working lands in Rocky View provide more dollars in tax revenue than they require in services. Action For Agriculture also encouraged Council to continue to support the strong effort of the Agricultural Service Board in their provincially mandated services of soil conservation and weed control. The net cost for these services was described as negligible compared with the total tax bill to Rocky View ratepayers. It was requested that any off-setting revenues derived from the change in responsibility for maintaining Secondary Highways remain in the Transportation Department's section of the budget. M.D. Council & Staff were urged to become aware of and familiar with the issue of urban sprawl and preserving working lands.
November 9, 1999, Calgary, Alberta
Action For Agriculture presented opposition today to a proposed Land Use Redesignation in the Municipal District of Rocky View.
The application to redesignate a parcel of agricultural land was the subject of a Public Hearing in the Municipal Council Chambers. This land is located north west of Cochrane near the hamlet of Cochrane Lakes (2 miles west of Highway #22 and 3.5 miles north of Highway #1A) and is currently designated Ranch and Farm District and Agricultural Holdings District. The application requested a Direct Control District designation to create 40 semi-detached residential dwelling units under a bare land condominium plan. The project is called EverDream Ridge Development.
Action For Agriculture stated that this type of development anywhere else but in a designated urban area is totally unacceptable. The economic losses from the conversion of agricultural land to other uses in Rocky View was restated as pointed out in an earlier submission to the General Municipal Plan. Benefits of saving farmland - food security, economic opportunities and protecting our natural resouces - were submitted. It was also stated that the cost of community services has to be considered. The American Farmland Trust summary of findings which shows that residential development costs $1.11 for every dollar collected was referred to. The Action For Agriculture submission concluded by stating that local governments are finding that they cannot afford to pay the price of sprawl.
The redesignation was subsequently denied.
November 8, 1999: Olds College
Action For Agriculture met today with representatives of Olds College to encourage them to address the issue of Farmland Preservation in their curriculum and education programs.
Today's discussion covered tools and techniques that would address the issues of:
- Managing Community Growth
- Controlling Urban Sprawl
- Teaching us all how to conserve our nation's most precious natural resource.
The general topic of Land Use Planning is currently part of the Farm Law module which is an elective for several programs of study at Olds College. Future possibilities for more thorough coverage of this topic as it relates to working lands include:
- A Conference or Seminar for Elected Municipal Officials,
- Extension Modules offered to Land Use Planning Professionals,
- Rural Land Use Planning Modules accredited by the University of Calgary Faculty of Environmental Design.
|
|
