Draft - Official Community Plan - Surrey 2050

Part D – Policies

OBJECTIVE

5.1 Protect and enhance S urrey’s agricultural land base .

POLICY ACTIONS

5.1.1 Maintain the integrity of Surrey’s Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) by:

5.1.4

Ensure agriculture zones, policies and guidelines remain current and consistent with provincial requirements by: a. Regularly updating agricultural zones, definitions, and regulations in the Zoning Bylaw ; b. Updating DP4: Agricultural requirements (see Appendix 2); and c. Responding to changes to provincial agricultural legislation, in particular, the Right to Farm Act and the Agricultural Land Commission Act and regulations pursuant thereto. Manage lowland agricultural drainage in alignment with the Agricultural and Rural Development Subsidiary Agreement and strategic flood control plans. Work with farmers to support access and availability to potable water for farm and residential uses, as necessary. Investigate ways of improving access to non-potable water for agricultural and farming operations, in conjunction with the province. Maintain farm vehicle travel routes in Surrey's transportation network to ensure efficient access to farms. Implement the DP4: Agricultural guidelines (see Appendix 2) to minimize conflicts and nuisance complaints along the urban agricultural edge.

a. Preserving the current extent of the ALR boundary; b. Discouraging non-farm uses in the ALR; c. Avoiding subdivision of ALR lands and adhering to minimum lot sizes prescribed by the Zoning Bylaw ; d. Ensuring any ALR land exclusions result in a net benefit to agriculture in Surrey; and e. Minimizing parcel fragmentation when constructing roads, utility corridors, and greenways . Maximize agricultural land for farm uses by: a. Prioritizing lands with prime agricultural soil for soil-based agriculture; b. Recommending non-soil based agricultural uses and structures on less productive soil through the application review process; and c. Clustering residential buildings and structures close to roads. Promote environmental stewardship on agricultural lands by: a. Encouraging the province’s Environmental Farm Plan Program; b. Continuing regenerative agricultural practices on city parkland in the ALR ; and c. Working with farmers to implement

5.1.5

5.1.2

5.1.6

5.1.7

5.1.3

5.1.8

5.1.9

the City’s Green Infrastructure Network and enhance wildlife habitat on agricultural lands, where appropriate.

Surrey 2050 | D36