The City of Richmond will be asking Port Metro Vancouver to clarify its land use plan that city councillors have found to be vague regarding the protection of agricultural land.
Four port-owned agricultural land plots totalling 240 acres, the largest being Gilmore farm in East Richmond, have been designated as “special study areas” by the port.
The city wants that designation to remain “agricultural” in order to support the plan that maps out land use and port growth over the next 15-20 years.
According to the plan — soon to be presented to the port’s board of directors for approval — the port expects marine traffic on the south arm of the Fraser River to intensify.
City staff indicated in a report to city council that, while the port lends itself to bringing economic growth to Richmond, such growth must come with assurances from the port that it doesn’t use agricultural land for industrial purposes.
Last month, the port’s CEO, Robin Silvester, gave no assurances to city councillors that agricultural land wouldn’t be used in the future, instead noting that the port will attempt to use existing industrial land along the river to expand.
PMV expects a 37 per cent increase in traffic (gross tonnage) from 2011 to 2018.
By 2022, a planned bridge to replace the George Massey Tunnel will facilitate larger ships to pass further up the river.
