The Rural Voice, 1981-05, Page 11Devon Downs agrominium site plan. The residential area is at
left. a riding ring. garden and pond at lower centre. the pool and
Jarvalt, while appearing at the OMB
hearings, Jones "blurted out" that the
agrominium project was simply a "play
farm."
"It's a hobby farm. none of which is a
viable operation," agreed Riddell. "1
don't think you're going to feed the
people of Ontario with hobby farms."
The defeat of Crang's agrominium
concept is not restricted to Ontario,
either. "This is an interesting point,"
explained the OFA's Jarvalt, "Jethro
Crang tried to do the same thing in
Alberta towards the end of last year, and
they turned him down."
In its ruling, the Development Appeal
Board of the Foothills Municipal District
rejected the agrominium plan because
of density requirements and "sounds and
smells", conditions, the board felt, which
might not be acceptable to those with an
urban background.
Crang, quite bluntly,' challenges those
reasons for rejecting the Alberta propo-
sal. "People seem to think farmers,
unlike urban people, are born with plugs
in their noses and ears. The only
difference, though, is that they own it."
Crang's proposal for Alberta was not
significantly different than that for West
Gwillimbury. In the west, in a $15 million
ex
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A.I.. Nat SONO
orchard at lower right. and the school at upper right. Pasture and
grain fields surround it all.
development, he intended to install 92
condominium units on 72 acres of a 1200
acre farm. There, also, homes would
have been owned individually but land
would be shared, with the farming
undertaken by a farm management team.
Ironically, Alberta Appeal Board chair-
man John Longson also described the
proposed development as a "hobby
farm." In spite of Crang's claim to the
contrary, Longson said the agrominium
concept would not encourage the farm-
land's full potential.
While the West Gwillimbury plan may
be central to the concerns of that area's
residents. it is only a single instance of
what farm organizations see as a poten-
tially larger problem. "The OFA is
mainly interested because it could set a
precedent," said Huron's Gerry Fortune.
Both Jones, and van Donkersgoed of
the CFFO feel planning by municipalities
and the province would weaken the
agrominium's chances for success. "It is
probably important that municipalities go
through their official plan and be specific
that this kind of development not be
permitted," Jones noted.
"The main point," van Donkersgoed
said, "is whether this is good planning
for rural Ontario. For non -rural Ontario,
it might be okay, but it would not be good
planning for rural Ontario."
The persistent concern in awaiting a
subsequent government ruling, and the
possibility of a precedent being set,
appears to have some validity. In 1978 the
Hamilton Spectator outlined a plan by
Samuel Roy Enterprises to establish an
agrominium near that city in Flambor-
ough township which angered area
farmers. Kevin Cox, agricultural writer
with the Spectator, told Rural Voice
recently that the issue seems to have
been put on the shelf for now. The
provincial cabinet can determine whether
the Flamborough project, and others like
it, will remain there.
"If you let something like that hapen,"
added Fortune, "the number of people
who could go ahead and develop class 1,
2, and 3 land with subdivisions is
staggering. The problem with issues like
this is they take a lot of time, but we can
keep fighting. We have won a few. We
are not going to give up."
Neither is Crang. The OMB ruling has
all the effects of a ceasefire, that peaceful
time when further battles are planned.
There is little doubt the fight will resume
at some level. What is in doubt is when. if
ever, it will end.
THE RURAL VOICE/MAY 1981 PG. 9