5.1 Agricultural Land Commission Partial Exclusion Application from Agricultural Land Reserve - Colwood Creek Park - Council Decision Points
Staff said the decision was whether to send a partial exclusion application to the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC), not whether the site would remain a park. Exclusion could give the City more flexibility to carry out the park plan; if the ALC refuses, the City could instead seek approval for individual non-farm uses. Council also supported formally dedicating the remaining fee-simple parcel as parkland and reviewing the park management plan after the ALC decides. A councillor raised concerns about future changes to the park’s natural character and the possibility of a third-party covenant; staff agreed to investigate an in-trust option. A councillor recused themself after disclosing a post-hearing conversation with a resident, and did not take part in the vote.
- The ALC, not Council, will decide whether the land is removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve.
- The park should remain parkland, and its management plan should be reviewed after the ALC decision.
- Council wanted staff to investigate an in-trust safeguard as an additional option.
- A councillor questioned whether park dedication alone would protect the park’s natural character from future amenity changes; staff said a future council could amend the management plan through a public process.
- Staff said covenants generally are not used on land dedicated as municipal park, while councillors discussed whether a third-party arrangement could provide additional protection.
Add a request for staff to investigate whether an in-trust arrangement is an option for Colwood Creek Park.
Send the application to remove part of Colwood Creek Park from the Agricultural Land Reserve to the provincial commission for consideration. Have staff survey the portion the City owns outright and formally dedicate it as parkland, then review and update the park management plan after the commission decides, involving the Parks and Environment Committee. Also have staff investigate an in-trust option for the park.