Urban agriculture may be coming to Squamish backyards soon, but don't expect to see vegetable and fruit stands popping up around town.
The District of Squamish is combing through its zoning bylaws. The review aims to update the document while including new regulations that promote an environmentally friendly community.
In the draft bylaws was one that would allow people on lots zoned for residential use to grow produce and build a structure up to 30 square metres from which to sell their goods. No less than 75 per cent of the produce for sale had to be grown on the person's lot and the keeping of poultry, fowl and bees would be prohibited - a regulation already in place to deter bears from entering the community.
At a recent bylaw review open house attended by 27, residents encouraged the new urban agriculture idea, consultant Brent Elliot told councilors at their Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday (Sept. 13). Most participants wanted to see the bylaw extended further to allow the banned livestock, he said.
But the bylaw received a lukewarm welcome in council chambers. If fruit and vegetable stands were built throughout the community they could increase traffic, a side effect that isn't desirable in single-family neighbourhoods, Coun. Doug Race said. There are already lots of venues residents can use to sell homegrown products, he said, noting the farmers' market and local stores.
"We don't have to have that kind of traffic coming into our neighbourhoods," Race said.
Neighbourhood vegetable and fruit stands could detract from the push to get people downtown, Coun. Paul Lalli warned. The bylaw would impact the Squamish's character, he added, noting there needs to be more community outreach before taking such a big step.
"I don't think the public is really being engaged in these high-level decisions," he said.
Coun. Corrine Lonsdale, though, argued that Squamish is already full of home-based businesses, from auto mechanics to massage services and barbershops. Councillors were focusing on the allowed size of the fruit and vegetable stands, but Lonsdale said it is hard to believe anybody would build a stand that big.
The issue, along with the ban on poultry, fowl and bees on residentially zone lots, needs to be taken to the public and resolved, she said.
Coun. Patricia Heintzman agreed, noting if they're kept properly, she favours allowing them in residential neighbourhoods. As for the fruit and vegetable stands, Heintzman said she would love to be able to walk through her neighbourhood and buy produce. She recommended council keep the vegetable and fruit stand allowance in the draft so that it could be discussed by the community when the document goes to public hearing.
"I think it is time we try to move things from status quo and try and be a little progressive," Heintzman said.
With the exception of Coun. Bryan Raiser, Lonsdale and Heintzman, the Committee of the Whole voted against the fruit and vegetable stands, but kept the urban agriculture portion of the bylaw.
Under current regulations, residents can already sell produce from their homes, Mayor Greg Gardner noted.
"I am not sure a 30-square-metre fruit stand in front of people's houses is a progressive move," he said.
The draft bylaws also include green measures such as making sure residential lots have a minimum of 30 per cent of their total surface area landscaped with permeable material. The new bylaws add solar panels to a list of structures that are exempt from height regulations.
On the affordable housing front, the draft rescinds a regulation that previously prevented accessory structures, such as coach houses, from being built until a principal building was in place.
The bylaw review will be back before committee of the whole in early October. It will then have to pass 1st and 2nd council reading before going to a public hearing, which will likely take place in late October, Gardner said.
