The Mountain View County agricultural service board has been given an update on a proposal to create a new rural commercial district designation in the municipality's land use legislation.
During the board's regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers on April 14, county director of planning John Rustling and development officer Jessica Ross explained the proposed new district.
“The purpose of the rural commercial district is to provide land use for agricultural lands that are not primarily used for agriculture, but related activity, such as isolated rural stores, small-scale commercial activity, agri-tourism and rural tourism businesses or secondary enterprises,” said Rusling.
Although the related activity may not be solely based in agriculture, they may be “part of farm diversification that would not be appropriate under agriculture district, discretionary businesses, home base and contractors and that would not be appropriate for a business park district.
“This proposed rural commercial district is to address the issues around accessory buildings on agricultural parcels that are not for the purpose of primary agriculture activities.”
Permitted use under the proposed district could include accessory building use, and on-site commercial.
Discretionary uses under the proposed district could include accessory building and use, accessory retail, agri-tourism, bed and breakfast, indoor and outdoor eating establishments, farmers markets, market gardens and some horticultural uses.
Accessory retail means the “retail sale of various products that is incidental to the primary use conducted on the same premises. Examples of these uses include a gift shop, on-site convenience stores, artisan/craft product manufacturing use with an incidental retail sales area”, while agri-tourism means a use that “provides educational and active opportunities to experience the agricultural way of life in Mountain View County.”
The agricultural service board accepted the presentation and accompanying documents for information.
John Rusling said the rural commercial district proposal will be presented to Mountain View County councillors at an upcoming policies and priorities committee meeting.
The agricultural service board advises the county and the province on agriculture issues. It is made up of county councillors and council-appointed public members.
