NO FARMS NO FOODS reports on the farmland loss issue:
Well, it is sad having to report to you that Nova Scotia’s food security has just been seriously compromised. Media attention is indicating that our Provincially-elected leaders “will likely not be intervening” in this rezoning issue!
On February 1st, Kings County Councillors voted 6 to 5 in favour of destroying 380 acres of farmland in Greenwich despite many concerned citizens giving each member numerous sound reasons to preserve this treasure in our midst and to protect our food security. Indeed, it was a pretty sad spectacle watching those 6 Councillors squirm in their seats, avoiding eye contact with those opposed, trying to “defend” their indefensible and obviously biased position by misstating and ignoring facts and twisting the meaning of our planning strategies, the Agricultural Land Review Report, and the advice from the NS Federation of Agriculture and the Town of Wolfville. See below (in red) for more details about what Council voted in favour of supporting.
WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!
The loss of farmland in Port Williams, Lower Canard and Greenwich is not a local issue. All Nova Scotians should have the option to buy local food. We must demand that the Province, who will be making a final decision on this rezoning, reject it and, instead, establish a strong policy to protect our farmland and our food security – if they truly want us to have the right to buy local foods. Now is your chance to make a real difference or these rezoning requests on our farmland will never end. We must not allow the Province to “wash their hands” of this farmland crisis.
The Province will need to hear from lots of citizens on this issue. Send a strong message and please do it soon.Here are some key points to make:Ask them to establish a Food Policy for Nova Scotians so that our food security is protected and that all Nova Scotians will have the option of buying locally-produced foods. Ask them to reject the Greenwich rezoning amendments. Tell them this loss to our farmland resource is not acceptable and that such a loss is not just a local issue. It is a Provincial issue which this government should and must act on. Ask them to adopt the recommendations of the Agricultural Land Review Committee and to establish a Farmland Preservation Policy for Nova Scotia immediately. This rezoning of a large tract of farmland in Kings County represents irreplaceable rural infrastructure necessary to produce heathful “local food” for city and rural families. Remind the Province that sustainable rural communties provide opportunities for long-term “green jobs” for a new generation of farmers.
Here’s who you can write to: (Please send a copy of your letter to every person on this list for the largest impact. We would be happy to do this for you, if you send your letter to nofarmsnofood@gmail.com. Please let us know if you are writing a letter so we can monitor public input.)
Premier Darrell Dexter(email) premier@gov.ns.ca(mailing) Office of the Premier, P.O. Box 726, Halifax N.S. B3J 2T3
Deputy Minister Richard Williams, Office of Policy & Priorities(email) williarm@gov.ns.ca(mailing) 1700 Granville Street, 3rd Floor, One Government Place, Halifax, N.S. B3J 1X5
David Smith, Provincial Planner, Planning Division of Municipal Affairs(email) dsmith@gov.ns.ca(mailing) P.O. Box 216, Halifax, N.S. B3J 2M4
Minister Sterling Belliveau, Department of Environment(email) min_env@gov.ns.ca(mailing) P.O. Box 442, Halifax, N.S. B3J 2P8
Minister John MacDonell, Department of Agriculture(email) MIN_DAG@gov.ns.ca(mailing) P.O. Box 2223, Halifax, N.S. B3J 3C4
Minister John MacDonell, Department of Municipal Affairs(email) SNSMRMIN@gov.ns.ca(mailing) 1505 Barrington Street, 14th Floor, P.O. Box 2664, Halifax, N.S. B3J 2M4
Minister Percy Paris, Department of Economic & Rural Development and Tourism(email) econmin@gov.ns.ca(mailing) Centennial Building, 1660 Hollis Street, P.O. Box 2311, Halifax, N.S. B3J 3C8
Minister Charlie Parker, Department of Natural Resources(email) min_dnr@gov.ns.ca(mailing) 3rd Floor, Founder’s Square, 1701 Hollis Street, Halifax, N.S. B3J 2T9
Beth Densmore, President of N.S. Federation of Agriculture(email) bdensmore@nsfa-dane.ca(mailing) 332 Willow Street, Truro, N.S. B2N 5A5
Ramona Jennex, MLA for Kings South(email) ramonajennexmla@bellaliant.com(mailing) 8985 Commercial Street, New Minas, N.S. B4N 3E3
Jim Morton, MLA for Kings North(email) jim@kingsnorthmla.ca(mailing) 401 Main Street, Kentville, N.S. B4N 3W4
What Councillors voted in favour of supporting:
*The removal of 380 acres of farmland in Greenwich for comprehensive residential and commercial development and the creation of another “growth centre” in Kings County;
*The expropriation of farmland belonging to another farmer (Noggins Corner Farm) not part of the application;
*The current expenditures totalling $100,000 of our tax dollars for the Applicants’ consultant to “process” their rezoning request, advertising, waived application fees, Planning Staff time, etc.;
*Future spending of more tax dollars on behalf of the land owners for five studies (estimated to cost $150,000), road construction, expropriation of land, water and sewer infrastructure (estimated to be in the millions of dollars) – which is needed before any residential/commercial development begins – with no guarantee of repayment to taxpayers by the developers;
*Threatening the viability of the most successful agri-tourism destination in the province and the most popular and scenic “gateway” to our valley for visitors and tourists and the rural character of the community which the majority of residents value and want preserved;
*Diminished property values of over 200 Greenwich residents and hundreds of Wolfville residents who may find themselves in a less desirable location to live;
*Destruction of wildlife habitat and bee pollination opportunities on the farmland and in protected ravines/ponds/forest lands that future development will impact.And, they did so despite:
*never proving that any demand for such growth and development in Greenwich exists;
*many other existing growth centers in the county being in desperate need of growth;
*there being thousands and thousands of available lots elsewhere in the county that are better suited for development without destroying farmland;
*young farmers telling them that it is virtually impossible to locate fertile, affordable land to farm near Greenwich;
*Noggins Corner Farm and Cosman & Whidden Honey expressing deep concerned that their businesses may be seriously hurt should development occur adjacent to them;
*an overwhelming majority of residents that attended the hearing opposed this application and demanded protection of our farmland;
*their own Planning Staff, the Town of Wolfville, and the N.S. Federation of Agriculture recommended Council do a Regional Planning process first;
*the tourism industry requesting that the economic value that Greenwich provides their industry not be undermined by non-agricultural development;
*being aware that a Holiday Inn Express Hotel developer will be immediately applying to remove additional farmland in Greenwich near Exit 11, which will destroy the least spoiled, scenic gateway to our area;
*procuring only rough estimates on the costs the residents of Kings County would have to shoulder for this massive development project.
Thank you for your continued and unflagging support! Marilyn Cameron