Don't forget our financial interest in farming

To the Editor:

In regard to protecting farmland, Kings County Council needs to outline clearly the policy blocks to residential developers in rural communities like District 4. Protecting farmland and enforcing good policy sits on the stewardship of Councillors.

I believe we’re headed down the wrong path if we don’t protect farmland in District 4. I do agree; Kings County is growing in population and retail business and that must continue to grow to secure a stable tax base for the future. But let’s not forget our financial interest in farming in rural Kings County.

The business of farming cannot become a dead issue in Kings County and voters may have to deliver the political direction before it’s too late in the 2008 Municipal election. The farming industry pumps millions into the local economy to fuel our continued lifeline.

I look at farming in this fashion: Valley farming is helping to pay for car payments, house payments and raising families, and that hasn't changed in hundreds of years. Please don’t misunderstand me; I’m not against the idea of residential development; we must have it. However, I feel there could be more residential development without destroying farmland.

Furthermore, prime farmland as a whole must be protected and Council must look at farming in this fashion. Farming is a way of life for many and we must promote moral policy to protect the future of farming in Kings County or we will lose much prime farmlands and a way of life to extreme residential development. That doesn’t fit with rural life.

One must remember the rural resource zone article 11.1 - The purpose of agricultural (A1) zone is to provide for agriculture as a dominant use which is to have priority over all other uses. No development permit shall be issued in agricultural (A1) zone except for agricultural uses and use subject conditions.

We have clear bylaw language; now all we need are councillors to enforce it.

All the best.

Sincerely

Jason Langille

Black Rock