The owner of a farm seeking to increase its accommodation capacity, with a rezoning application before the District of Sechelt, says there seems to be some misconceptions regarding the proposal.
Tyler Gray adds, the application is being likened to a request to operate an Airbnb, which he says is absolutely not the case. Instead, he and wife Lucinda, who own Akasha Farm in ts'ukw'um (Wilson Creek) want to increase their two domed tents to three, add two small cottages with no cooking options, and be allowed to place up to five tents across the property. An existing cabin on the property is now being used by farm workers. He notes the change would mean five structures in place year-round, instead of three, with an option to add up to five tents and/or RVs during warmer months.
“This local community has got such a bad taste in its mouth for Airbnb, for valid reason…” says Gray. “But this actually solves that problem, because it offers tourist accommodations, while not taking housing out of the local community. So, the fact that some of the council members think we’re trying to run an Airbnb business. That's not the case.”
Gray notes the couple has been offering agritourism accommodation and experiences without any complaints from neighbours, since they purchased the farm five years ago. When it comes to larger gatherings, Gray says under the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) regulations, they’re are already allowed to host up to 150 people for 10 non-farm events per year. Gray says the couple would like to host smaller events, including corporate or yoga retreats, small-scale weddings and farm-series dinners featuring celebrity chefs.
“This rezoning application has nothing to do with us being able to host any of those types of events, because we already can, not that we’re planning any of that size,” says Gray. “All we want to do is reconfigure what we already have to offer.”
Gray is a chef, who among other career highlights, acted as a judge and wild-food specialist on the TV series Iron Chef, wants to bring that passion for food to the Coast.
“This is an opportunity to bring community and people together and create international events where I'll have Michelin star chefs coming to our farm to cook farm-series dinners and use our products and stay on the farm and have really cool, interesting events,” says Gray. “I’m concerned people are getting upset over some misleading things.”
At the Oct. 16 regular meeting of Sechelt council, a report presented by Ian Holl, development planning manager for the district, said staff has been working with the applicants on a number of revisions since last December.
He noted bringing the bylaw back for second reading is to clarify the number and type of units being proposed.
“What we have is simply an update to the type of units in terms of geodesic domes, now to A-frame cabins and five to 10 RV sites, so still within the same 10-unit limit that the province has, just updating the type of units and the configuration of those units,” said Holl. "So, we want to give second reading again and then, finally, move to a public hearing.”
While the ALR allows allow up to 10 units in a variety of configurations without requiring a non-farm use application, the district created Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022, which intentionally limits the number, location and type of agritourism accommodation units on agricultural land. When developing the bylaw, the district decided it would be more restrictive than the province as a way to emphasize the primary use of agriculture in the new AG1 zone.
As previously reported in Coast Reporter, Holl clarified that the current Official Community Plan does not set a limit to the allowable number of units and is supportive of agritourism balanced against agriculture being the primary use of the land.
At the Oct. 16 meeting, Coun. Adam Shepherd said while researching the application, he read emails from neighboring landowners objecting to the plan.
“I did a very quick search of what has been sent into council and came up with these, so I'm actually not in favour of this,” said Shepherd. “Standing back from it, it really looks like an Airbnb operation that they're pivoting to.”
Coun. Dianne McLauchlan, agreed with Shepherd, but said she also had concerns about safety regarding visitors cooking in tents.
“I don't know if other Airbnbs are allowed to have tents, whether they'll have cooking facilities in there, like, is there going to be tents with toaster ovens in them?” McLaughlin asked. “And it just made me kind of bit nervous about the kind of free-wheeling, innovative, whatever kind of situation here…”
McLaughlin added, owners of agricultural land often get “huge tax deductions,” so she’d like to know what the taxation on the property is.” She also had concerns about making decisions about agricultural land, which is typically regulated by the province.
Coun. Darren Inkster said he assumed going forward, if there was a need to change the taxation status of the property, that would then be taken into consideration. He added, staff would also confer with the provincial government regarding any proposed change in use for land within Sechelt, which is in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
Insker says it's good the emails mentioned by Shepherd earlier in the meeting are being discussed publicly now, because he's of the understanding the proposal is receiving more positive feedback.
"So, I'm comfortable going to a public hearing to hear what the public has to say on this application.”
The motion to move to public hearing was approved, with councillors Shepherd and McLauchlan opposed. Coun., Brenda Rowe was absent.
