Public hearing demonstrates support, opposition for farm market rezoning

By Kirk Starratt

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

One might agree that farm market operations in Greenwich should be rezoned C13, Farm Commercial, or one might disagree. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, however, it’s clear from a public hearing about the proposed rezoning on Thursday evening that there are lots of people on either side of the fence.

Kings County council will consider second and final reading of the proposed C13 rezoning for Greenwich farm markets at its Tuesday evening, Feb. 5, session.

Following the hearing, Warden Fred Whalen said there had been about three-dozen speakers. There was a lot of correspondence, including 433 form letters. Since the letters were so similar, Whalen said five or six were chosen to read as a representative sample. Unique correspondence was read as well.

When form letters and a petition from concerned residents are removed from the equation, Whalen said it seemed to be about an even split between those in favour of having the farm markets rezoned C13, without any other action being taken, and those who would prefer to see the C10 (Commercial) and R7 (Residential) zoning that exists in the western end of the community extended throughout.

Whalen said the council vote Tuesday would probably be close, whichever way it happens to turn out.

The council chambers in Kentville were filled to near capacity for the hearing and there were even a few people seated outside in the hall, where an overflow area had been set up.

Overview of C13

Planner Ben Sivak gave an overview of C13 zoning and how it compares to Agricultural, C10 or R7 zoning.

Peter Elderkin, one of the subject landowners, said the landowners don’t want C13 zoning. He said they want their land added to the hamlet and given the same C10 and R7 zoning as farm markets in the west end of the community have.

“The proposal legitimizes our current businesses,” he said. “It’s a feel-better thing. It doesn’t follow your MPS (Municipal Planning Strategy) for Greenwich.”

Marilyn Cameron is in favour of the C13 rezoning for farm markets and taking no further action. It would provide the landowners with an opportunity to expand their farm market operations and receive municipal services.

“Despite being in the so-called urban corridor, Greenwich has resisted the transition to become a growth centre,” she said.

Audrey Haig-Stewart said it’s abundantly clear there is a strong desire in the community to preserve its rural characteristics.

“Kings County has been a leader in the preservation of agricultural land in Nova Scotia and Canada. Why after all this time and when others are even beginning to follow our lead would we regress to the old way of doing things?” Haig-Stewart said.

Ken Young is against the C13 proposal because he feels it’s a patchwork fix. He would prefer long-term planning to help the farm markets diversify and expand, utilizing the same zoning as the rest of the business community in Greenwich.

Puzzled by councillor

Gerry Cudmore is puzzled by Coun. Chris Parker’s determination to see the land developed.

“I’d like to challenge my own councillor, Chris Parker, to vote on behalf of his constituents next Tuesday,” Cudmore said.

Patricia Bishop said she supports the C13 rezoning and taking no further action.

“This zoning will ensure that Greenwich will not become an extention of New Minas,” she said. “It allows flexibility for the agri-businesses to diversify while respecting the high capability agricultural land.”

Linda O’Neill is in full support of the C13 rezoning and taking no further action. She suggested that a land easement supported by taxpayers could be used as a buffer between residential development to the immediate east of Elderkin’s land and his operation to help reduce conflict.

Doug Hennigar, one of the subject landowners, doesn’t like the attitude of some members of the community that it’s okay for him and the other subject landowners to have to pay ten times or more what others in the community had to pay for municipal sewer and water service extensions. He said the request to have their land rezoned C10 and R7 is about increasing the amount of equity in the land.

“If we’re given the right tools, we have no plans to develop buildings,” Hennigar said. If they can realize increased equity in their land as a result of a C10 and R7 rezoning, he said the farm market operators could keep farming and they wouldn’t have to build houses.