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MEAFORD'S NEXT CHAPTER

Agricultural and rural lands are key contributors to Meaford’s character and economy. While the previous section focused on various uses, activities, and designations that contribute to rural character, the following questions will focus more closely on policies related to agricultural and farming operations.

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1. The Official Plan states that the Municipality recognizes the agricultural sector of the economy is important to the economic well-being of the Municipality and its residents. On this basis, it is the intent of the Plan to encourage all levels of government to collectively recognize the value of both protecting farmland and assisting farmers to ensure that farming remains viable in Meaford. This is intended to be accomplished through the land-use planning system by protecting land suitable for farming and by allowing farmers to realize other economic development opportunities on their lands.

In your opinion, are agricultural lands adequately being protected?

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Can this be done better?

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Do you think economic development opportunities for agriculture are enabled?

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Can this be done better?

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2. The following outlines the permitted uses in the Agricultural designation:

Primary Uses:

- All types and sizes of agricultural uses and their related buildings and structures shall be permitted

Secondary Uses:

- Single detached dwellings
- Accessory residential uses on farm properties
- Bed and breakfast establishments
- Home occupations and custom workshops
- Forestry and other resource management uses
- Passive recreational uses, such as walking trails and nature interpretation centres
- Wineries

Agriculture-Related Uses:

- Small-scale commercial and industrial uses on farm properties s
- Farm-related exhibitions and agricultural tourism establishments

Other Uses:

- Sand and/or gravel operations
- Airports, utilities, transmission towers, designated historic sites and other infrastructure shall be permitted on existing lots of record or new lots

Are these permitted uses appropriate?

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Are there any additional uses that should be considered?

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3. The intent of the Agricultural designation is to:
 
  • Maintain and protect the agricultural resource base of the Municipality
  • Protect land suitable for agricultural production from development and land-uses unrelated to agriculture
  • Permit uses which support the agricultural industry
  • Protect and promote the agricultural character of the Municipality to encourage the maintenance of a productive agricultural area

Do you agree with these objectives?

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Do you think other objectives should be considered?  What would you add? Change?

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4. Please note that ‘Rural’ is the umbrella term encompassing all manner of activities related to the countryside which includes agricultural activities. Questions in this section are specifically focused on farming and agricultural-related operations.

The following outlines the objectives of the Rural designation.

  •  Protect the rural character of the Municipality and the maintenance of those elements which contribute to the open space character of the countryside

  • Prevent the intrusion of land-uses which are incompatible with the rural character and/or resource activities of the area

  • Protect land suitable for agricultural production from development and land-uses unrelated to agriculture

  • Promote the agricultural industry and associated activities and enhance their capacity to contribute to the economy of the Municipality

  • Provide for the development of recreational uses which are compatible with the rural and agricultural character of the Municipality

  • Ensure that new recreational uses will not have an impact on the environmental and hydrogeological resources of the Municipality

  • Ensure that the scale of development is compatible with the role and function of the rural area

Do you think that the objective to “promote the agricultural industry and enhance their ability to contribute to Meaford’s economy” is occurring in Meaford? Why or why not?

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5. Do you think the objective to "provide recreational uses that are compatible with Meaford’s rural and agricultural character" is currently happening?

Why or why not?

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6. It is the current policy of the Official Plan that an additional residential dwelling unit in Agriculturally designated lands may be permitted in a single-detached dwelling or detached building in the Agricultural, Rural, or Specialty Agricultural designations where:

 - The residential nature of the house is maintained;
- One additional parking space is provided;
- There is a maximum of two bedrooms;
- If the additional dwelling unit is in a separate building, it is located in the farm cluster of buildings;
- There is a maximum of 50% of the floor area of the dwelling for the additional dwelling unit; and
- Servicing shall be by private septic system.

What do you think about these policies?

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Are they too regulated?

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Are there any additions you would like to see?

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7. Currently, the Official Plan states that temporary farm help accommodations may be permitted in the form of a permanent building but shall not be used as a permanent residence.

What do you think of this statement?

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8. Temporary farm help accommodations are subject to the following criteria:

- The use shall generally not be permitted within the front yard of any farm residence and should be located within the existing farm-building cluster, or where it would not otherwise interfere or remove lands from agricultural production;

- The use shall be suitably screened from neighboring properties;

- Farm help must be necessary on a seasonal basis on the farm;

- The farmer shall live in the principal farm residence, if any, with farming as his/her principle occupation, and in the case of seasonal farming, work part-time on the farm; and,

- The dwelling unit(s) shall be removed when no longer required for farm help purposes. In some cases, it may possible to convert a permanent building used for temporary farm help accommodations to another permitted use.

Do you agree or disagree with these requirements?

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What changes would you like to see?

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9. The Municipality recognizes the nature of farming is changing and that additional activities, such as home occupations and custom workshops can be carried out in the Agricultural designation and not have an adverse impact on agricultural uses.

Home occupations are considered to be professional work activities that are carried on within the residential dwelling that typically do not involve the retail sale of goods and services and do not occupy more than 25% to 50% of the dwelling.

Custom workshops are buildings or a part of a building used by a trade, craft or guild to manufacture small quantities of made-to-measure clothes or articles. It includes baking, custom woodworking, dressmaking, upholstering, weaving, repair, refinishing of antiques and other art objects, ceramic making, painting, sculpting, and the repair of personal effects, but shall not include metal spinning, refinishing of antique automobiles, or any factory production as classified in the Zoning By-law.

Are you aware of any home occupations taking place that you do not agree with?

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Do you think there are too many restrictions for home occupations?

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What kind of opportunities do you think are being missed that you would like to see addressed?

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10. The Municipality supports the development of uses that promote the importance of the agricultural community. On this basis, uses such as farm-related exhibitions and agricultural tourism shall generally be permitted.

Agricultural tourism refers to the act of visiting a working farm or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation for the purpose of enjoyment, education or active involvement in the activities of the farm where the principal activity on the property remains farming and where products used in the activity are produced on the property or related to the farm.

Types of activities associated with this may include farm machinery and equipment exhibitions, farm tours, farm holiday-related exhibitions and small-scale educational establishments that focus on farming instruction, a hay or corn maze, petting zoo, hay rides and sleigh, buggy or carriage rides, processing demonstrations, pick-your own produce and farm-themed playgrounds and other similar uses.  

Do you have any comments on the existing agri-tourism establishments and how would you like to see these uses develop in the future?

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What ideas can you offer to help these agri-tourism uses become more successful?

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11. The Specialty Agriculture designation is intended for specialty crops in the Municipality, primarily orchard lands and other lands that produce or store apples and other tender fruits, although agricultural uses are also permitted.

In addition to this, additional permitted uses include:

Secondary Uses:

- Single detached dwellings
- Accessory residential uses on farm properties
- Bed and breakfast establishments
- Home occupations and custom workshops
- Forestry and other resource management uses
- Passive recreational uses, such as walking trails and nature interpretation centres
- Wineries

Agriculture-Related Uses:

- Small-scale commercial and industrial uses on farm properties
- Farm-related exhibitions and agricultural tourism establishments

Other Uses:

- Sand and/or gravel operations
- Airports, utilities, transmission towers, designated historic sites and other infrastructure shall be permitted on existing lots of record or new lots  

Do you have any comments related to the permitted uses of this designation? What other uses would be fitting, supportive or complimentary in the Special Agriculture designation?

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12. Do you think existing Official Plan policies support agricultural growth and why?

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Are there other ways that the municipality can further support growth, stability, and long-term viability for farmers and the agricultural industry?

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