Time is running out for Rocky View residents to provide input into the draft recommendations of the County’s Agricultural Master Plan (AMP).
An online survey, which has been available on the County’s website since the end of July following the public unveiling of the draft plan, will close Sept. 6.
“We want to hear from our agricultural community,” said Tim Dietzler Rocky View’s agricultural fieldman. “This AMP is kind of setting the stage for the future of agriculture… it is a good opportunity to say what you see for the future of agriculture, and to see if we have got it (the draft AMP) right.”
The survey asks residents to identify any concerns with the plan, provide missing or additional information and asks if the plan captures what is important to landowners and farmers.
The plan makes a number of recommendations on everything from allowing farmers to automatically take first parcels out without having to get redesignation approval, to putting the impetus on developers to buffer new residential areas from existing agricultural land.
County staff has been working on the plan for more than a year, and has sought public input on a number of occasions, starting with the first open house in April 2010.
A focus group, which attracted a number of farmers and landowners including a group of between 15 and 20 regular participants, met on a regular basis to discuss the plan and make recommendations.
According to Dietzler, each open house attracted between 30 and 70 people.
“Overall, we are seeing good participation from the agricultural community,” he said, adding that staff used a new, more open and inclusive process to come up with the draft plan.
“We are just trying to provide more transparency and openness.”
After Sept. 6, comments from the survey will be reviewed by staff to see what changes, if any, need to be made before the draft plan comes before council for final consideration, likely sometime this fall.
For more information on the draft plan or to take the survey, visit http://thinkfresh.rockyview.ca
