A rezoning application, which would allow a small-scale farm in ts'ukw'um (Wilson Creek) to expand its short-term agritourism accommodation from three units to 10, including five tent/RV sites, will go to public hearing prior to any zoning bylaw amendments.
At the Oct. 16 regular meeting of Sechelt council, a report presented by Ian Holl, development planning manager for the district, showed Tyler and Lucinda Gray, who own Akasha Farm at 1785 Tyson Road, would like to grow their agritourism offerings by adding two A-frame cabins and five tent/RV sites to the three geodesic domes already in place, for a total of 10 units.
The expansion would allow the couple to host weddings, harvest dinners and retreats, which they say will not only bring in added revenue to local businesses but also allow them to share and promote their regenerative farming practices and the culture they are creating “around the intersection between holistic living and agriculture.”
Holl told council staff has been working with the applicants on a number of revisions since last December, and have been reviewing what’s already in place on the property and what the owners’ long-term plans are.
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.”
The proposal would alter the zoning regulation to allow units outside the single detached dwelling, which is aligned with the provincial Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) regulations that allow up to 10 units in a variety of configurations without requiring a non-farm use application.
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.
The report noted that since December 2023, the applicant has provided additional information on both existing uses and future plans for the property.
The AG1 zone in Zoning Bylaw No. 580, 2022, 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. The objective was to not only better protect agricultural use of farmland, it was also based on the extensive allowance for short-term rentals in residential zones outside the ALR, with the intent to reduce the pressure for non-farm/residential usage of farmland.
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.
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