Government Introduces Bill-52 to Prevent Unintended Use of Agricultural Land Reserve BC

Government Introduces Bill-52 to Prevent Unintended Use of Agricultural Land Reserve BC

  • Real Estate
March 15, 2019

Bill-52 introduced on November 5, 2018, to ensure farmlands are used for agricultural purposes to provide the province of British Columbia a self-sustaining food source. Some farmlands in B.C. were used to build mega-mansions and dumping construction waste, which is not what the agricultural land reserve is intended for.

According to the Provincial Agricultural Land Commission: “The Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) protects approximately 4.6 million hectares of agriculturally suitable land across British Columbia. The ALR us a provincial zone in which agriculture is recognized as the priority use. Farming is encouraged and non-agricultural uses are restricted”

The proposed legislation (Bill-52) makes three key changes:

  • Reinstating one zone for all ALR land in B.C, to ensure all ALR land receive the same protections.
  • Addressing mega-mansions and speculation in ALR by limiting new house sizes to less than 500 square meters (5,400square feet) except through application with the agricultural land commission (ALC).
  • Crackdown illegal dumping of construction debris, toxic waste, or other fills in the ALR.

Mega mansions on Richmond farmland has been steadily increasing over the past couple of years. It is a major concern because the construction of mega-mansion reduces farmable land and rather the land is being used for agricultural purposes remain uncertain. Furthermore, mega-mansion makes farming less affordable due to the cost of the home.

Bill-52 amendment is an important step forward to protecting the ALR and seal up the loophole in the system. Agricultural land is zoned for a purpose and we’re glad to see B.C government is taking an initiative to provide our future food source.

Reference

Bill-52

Yoyoe Lu

Founder and managing principal
yoyoe@claridgeadvisors.com

Yoyoe is the founder and managing principal of Claridge. She was ranked one of Vancouver’s top real estate agents. Currently, Yoyoe is our strategic mind leading the team to success. Her affiliation with industry professionals put her ahead of our competitors. Yoyoe is also part of the Rotary Club of West Vancouver, Canadian Homebuilders Association, Urban Land Institute and Urban Development Institute.

Ashley Osborn

Development Site and Investment Specialist
ashley@claridgeadvisors.com

Ashely is our lead land and investment advisor. He has been consistently featured in the annual top 100 real estate deals of British Columbia ranking. With over $15 billion worth of domestic and international real estate investments under his belt, Ashley is one of the top agents in the province. His 20 years of real estate and financial experience make him a master in negotiation and acquisition.

Patricia Wong Chong

Investment and Leasing Specialist
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Patricia is our investment and retail leasing advisor. Her experience in brokerage and market research analysis has helped her comprise over $550 million in commercial real estate transactions. Patricia is responsible, detail-oriented, and professional. Her strong work ethic and positive attitude have led her to surpass all her competitors.

Schumann Li

Land Assembly & Residential Specialist
schumann@claridgeadvisors.com

Schumann is a top-producing realtor in the Lower Mainland with more than 30 years’ experience. Over the years, Schumann hasn’t just garnered awards, but the trust of countless customers. Her clients continually refer to her outstanding professionalism, work ethic and poise.

Wendy Kaip

Sales Associate
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Whether it’s decoding city policies, strategizing relocation plans, home sellers looking for a trustworthy advisor to unlock their property’s maximum potential- Wendy is here to help every step along the way.

Prior to real estate, Wendy spent over a decade in the mining industry with her attention to detail, keen negotiation skills, extensive network and strong reputation for getting the deal done, bringing endless value to her current real estate clients.

Whether you are thinking about selling to a developer, or have more questions about commercial real estate, Wendy invites you to connect, to see how she can utilize her expertise and team to help create value and maximize your real estate goals.

Simon Chan

Managing Broker
simon@claridgeadvisors.com

Simon is the managing broker of Claridge Real Estate Advisors Inc. His expertise has helped our agents resolve many difficulties. Not only is Simon knowledgeable with real estate legislation, but he is also very detail orientated. With Simon on our team, our agents are confident to conduct businesses and will always get the support they need to ensure they’re not walking on dirty water.

Frank Zhou

Analyst
frank@claridgeadvisors.com

As the analyst of the company, my key job is to help brokers to find marketable clients and locate feasible development sites by collecting and analyzing up-to-date market transaction data and conducting target market and property-level research. Meanwhile, I am also in charge of maintaining the company’s property database to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness and continuously upgrading the level of knowledge by staying up to date with hot topics, and market trends, and incorporating findings into everyday work. Before joining the company, I worked for CR Group as a real estate investment manager, focusing on capital raising, equity and debt financing, acquisition and renovation. I hold 2 master’s degrees, one in Housing Management and the other in Economics.

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