CAN: Lakeshore municipality faces regulatory hurdles for greenhouse policies

In a recent development , the Municipality of Lakeshore ’s ambitious design for Commercial Greenhouse Policies , outline in Official Plan Amendment No . 18 , faces regulatory challenge . The County of Essex has raised concerns over the abidance of the amendment , specifically the assort Zoning By - law Amendment ( ZBA-01 - 2023 ) , with the agrarian policies in the Provincial Policy Statement 2020 .

County Planning Manager Rebecca Belanger expressed her care in a alphabetic character to Ms. Tammie Ryall , Corporate Leader of Growth and Sustainability at the Municipality of Lakeshore . The letter highlighted that the proposed amendment could gravely limit the establishment of commercial nursery in areas fate and zoned Agricultural within the municipality . The primary issue emphasise was related to reverse in the Zoning By - law Amendment .

Ms. Belanger recommended that the municipality hire in give-and-take with the County of Essex and Provincial Ministries , including the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture , Food , and Rural Affairs ( OMAFRA ) , to plow these policy and regulatory issues . The testimonial , as gift in a report , urges the municipality to direct its administration to meet with relevant authorities and account back to the Council by the December 12 , 2023 encounter .

Background of the commercial nursery policiesThe Municipality of Lakeshore embarked on a study to appraise the impact of with child - Scale Greenhouse evolution , eventually result in Official Plan Amendment No . 18 and an implementation of Zoning By - practice of law Amendment 2 - 2023 . The amendment , following public consultations and adjustments , were okay by the Council on March 7 , 2023 . However , subsequent revaluation by the County of Essex raised concerns about the amendment ' conformity with provincial farming policy .

A freestanding on-going study , initiate after a report by Storey Samways Greenhouse in November 2022 , is exploring the theory of limiting Commercial Greenhouse Farms to point area where impacts can be effectively managed . Despite this , the current amendment are under scrutiny for their adherence to Provincial Policy Statement 2020 .

Administrative recommendation and financial impactsIn response to the concerns raised by the County of Essex , the municipality ’s presidency is recommended to rent in give-and-take with the County and Provincial Ministries to discover solutions . The financial impact of the study , amount to $ 53,000 , was within the approved budget .

The Municipality of Lakeshore now faces a crucial decision regarding the futurity of its Commercial Greenhouse Policies . The outcome of the discussions and any proposed modification will be presented to the Council as per the December 12 , 2023 meeting , providing insight into the guidance the municipality will take to answer the regulative hurdle .

Click here for the meeting second

Click here for the missive sent out in November