An application to amend the Interlakes Official Community Plan (OCP), submitted to the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) directors, may change the guidelines for residential developments bordering agricultural lands.
The requested change would see the elimination of the current minimum lot area of four hectares (10 acres) for residential property adjacent to agricultural areas, which was originally instituted as a buffer between residential and agricultural areas.
Area L Director Bruce Rattray says intent of the buffer was to reduce conflict situations between residents and livestock/ranchers.
"While this amendment has been initiated as a result of a specific development proposal, it would apply throughout the Interlakes OCP area."
The application seeks to replace this requirement with text that would instead mandate other "buffering," such as fencing and vegetative areas, he explains.
It would also add awareness covenants to ensure landowners are aware of the proximity to agricultural lands.
The CRD has already forwarded related information to agencies for review and comment, and Rattray says once it comes back to the directors, they may opt to reject it, or proceed with first and second readings leading to a public hearing.
If approved, the amended OCP would have the text requiring the minimum size removed altogether, with new wording proposed for preventing adverse affects on agricultural activities from rural residential or other non-farm areas.
He adds the applicant, Drewry Lake Ranch Ltd., is proposing the overall change in relation to its 21-lot subdivision development at Webb Lake, and has told directors more recent practices render the four-acre minimum unnecessary.
"The applicants are saying the text is obsolete because now we're doing things like agricultural awareness covenants, maintaining a 15-metre vegetative buffer and fencing the properties."
This requires developers to install agricultural (wire) fencing with no openings along the border, and covenants applied to ensure maintenance by the landowner.
Rattray notes more information on the specific changes is available on his website at www.brucerattray.ca.
