Thompson-Nicola Regional District is seeking public input on proposed changes to zoning for hobby farms.
“Please give us your input as soon as possible to inform the actual content of the proposed bylaw amendment,” the TNRD asks on its website.
The changes would put limits on livestock numbers based on lot area, build-out on small lots (size and height of accessory buildings), and building area or “coverage” based on percentage of lot area.
They would not apply to land that is within the agricultural land reserve (ALR).
According to the TNRD website, the bylaw will be before the regional district's board of directors for readings early in 2017 with a public hearing anticipated in February or March.
The board directed staff to look at the issue and propose changes because, at present, bylaw complaints related to livestock cannot be resolved under existing rules
The proposed changes would also make the TNRD's zoning consistent with new provincial ALR laws and regulations.
Another cause for the changes is that the TNRD is terminating land use contracts (LUCs) within its boundaries. Land use contracts are similar to zoning in that they limit what the land can be used for but on an individualized basis. Most former LUC lands are rolling into zones that would impacted by the proposed changes, so now would be the best time to make those changes.
More information and a link to a discussion paper are available at: www.tnrd.ca/content/proposed-changes-zoning-hobby-farms.