Applause rings out as Kings County council defeats controversial Port Williams farmland rezoning

By Kirk Starratt

kstarratt@kentvilleadvertiser

NovaNewsNow.com

It came right down to the wire, but applause rang out as Kings County council defeated a controversial proposal to rezone farmland in Port Williams for residential development.

The council chambers were filled to capacity with some people having to stand or sit on the floor as council considered second and final reading of a rezoning application that would have seen a large piece of farmland added to the Port Williams growth centre.

The proposed Municipal Planning Strategy (MPS) and Land Use Bylaw (LUB) amendments would have redesignated and rezoned the land, located generally between Highway 358 and Collins Road, from Agricultural (A1) to Residential Comprehensive Development District (RCDD).

The applicants, Dykeview and Riverbrook Farms, represented by Earl Kidston and Greg Coldwell, want to use 97 acres for potential residential development and 29 acres for a retirement, assisted-living and long-term care community for seniors.

Coun. Janet Newton, who represents the area, said staff reviewed the application extensively. Both staff and the county’s planning advisory committee (PAC) gave positive recommendations to the rezoning. She said it’s consistent with the MPS, as it directs growth to the growth centre.

If the application is defeated, she said the village would have to find another way to protect its drinking water supply. The subject property is within the village’s well-field protection zone and the village has struggled with high nitrate counts in the water supply, probably precipitated by farming practices in the vicinity.

Newton said the applicants have opened up new farmland and purchased farms, but they wish to stop farming the well field.

“Port Williams is a great place to grow people,” she said, pointing out that more residents would mean more customers for local businesses and local farm produce. “More will come if there are places to build on.”

She said she wouldn’t do anything to hurt her community and she truly believes this is a good project.

New information

Coun. Chris Parker said councillors had received new information after the public hearing for the Port Williams matter. Because of an upcoming meeting with the province about the protection of farmland, some people said the application should be turned down and a moratorium should be established until a plan is in place.

Parker said he was voting for the application but wondered what the legal ramifications would be if he now voted against it and caused it to fail.

Municipal solicitor Don Urquhart said councillors should be basing their decision on what was heard at the public hearing, disregarding later submissions.

Parker said the proposed development would help prevent people from taking 20-acre lots to build a single house.

“That’s ridiculous, that’s a mistake,” he said. “Let’s direct it to the urban corridor. I’ll be supporting this. In my heart, I know I’m doing the right thing.”

Coun. Jim Taylor said this council isn’t against developing housing. They’re looking at Canaan Ridge and there’s enough land there to keep developers busy for ages. He suggested using land still available within growth centres more efficiently so the best soils can be left for the production of food.

Taylor said council has came up against a brick wall issue that may be more than they can handle and it’s time for other levels of government to get involved.

“Common sense tells us farming is a primary industry and the primary resource for it is the land,” he said. “You never miss the water until the well runs dry.”

Coun. Madonna Spinazola said that just as farmland is important for future generations, water could be the oil for our children and grandchildren. However, she said, farming is the primary source of nitrates in our drinking water.

“There is an MPS,” she said. “If we vote this down, we should seriously look at the MPS and change it immediately. It would look ridiculous not to follow the MPS.”

Spinazola said the Port Williams secondary planning strategy committee would have input even if the proposal were approved, as no development would take place without a development agreement.

Need food supply

Coun. Eric Smith said we should be able to supply our own people with our own produce. If we continue to pave the land, we’ll never survive because we’ll be at the mercy of other nations.

“May it go down in history that Kings County set the precedent for the protection of farmland,” he said.

Coun. Barry Peterson said, somewhere along the line, we forgot about our farmers. “What do we leave our next generation? Hopefully enough land to feed themselves,” he said.

In a recorded vote, council defeated the proposal with four councillors voting in favour and seven voting against.

During the public comment session following the vote, Jeanita Rand of Port Williams thanked council from the bottom of her heart for saving agricultural land in Nova Scotia.

Port Williams resident Ken Bezanson said he felt history was made, as councillors kept an open mind and prevented the community from trading its birthright for a quick fix.

Concerned citizen Pauline Raven said it was a very productive evening for agricultural land in Kings County and she thanked those councillors in support of agricultural land preservation.

Raven said council has placed 650 acres of prime farmland in jeopardy in recent years and said Parker had pursued non-farm development most vigorously.

Concerned citizen Patricia Bishop, president of the Kings County Federation of Agriculture, thanked council.

Concerned citizen Linda Best said we have very few years to make choices to ensure we can feed ourselves in the future. Now, the Port Williams secondary planning strategy can proceed and she said she looks forward to seeing the new Port Williams as it evolves over the next few years.