Exclusion of Land Attached to $8.5 Million String

Monday, August 11, 2008 04:18 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The exclusion of the 688 hectares from the Agriculture Land Reserve for the development of a logistics park adjacent to the Prince George Airport, didn’t come without a price.

When the property is developed and sold, there will be an extra $5,000 dollars per acre sold to be paid by the developer into a special fund.

That money will go into what is being called the Prince George Airport Lands Agricultural Development Fund, and it will be administered by the Northern Initiatives Development Trust for agricultural purposes only. The money can go to projects that will contribute to economic opportunities in agriculture in the area.

If all of the land is sold, that means (at $5,000.00 an acre) the “fund” would collect nearly $8.5 million dollars.

The fund has not yet been established, nor have the guidelines for the fund on how the Northern Trust will handle the funding.

This is the first time the Commission has made a decision with this type of funding agreement.

Opinion 250 has learned the Agriculture Land Commission had looked at the initial proposal to have the 688 hectares removed, then went back to the proponent and the proponent presented the proposal for this “fund”.

Initiatives Prince George Vice President, Economic Development, Katherine Scouten says even with the extra dollars for the “fund” the approval is a positive move “ We feel we have a package we can work with. We can move forward with our economic diversification and investment attraction plans.”

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Posted on Monday, August 11, 2008 04:18 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Big-Wayne on August 11 2008 4:29 PM

good news for developement in PG and an interesting twist towards agriculture in the area

Posted by: Bridge on August 11 2008 4:52 PM

It is unbeleivable that we are not producing some of our own food in the area. Lets hope this fund will give agriculture a shove in the right direction to start producing some of our own food in the area.

Agricultural studies that have been done in the past have indicated that many different type root crops can be grown in the area. The other positve is CLIMATE CHANGE. Should temperatures get warmer we could even grow grapes. Starting to think like our Mare.

Cheers

Posted by: Harbinger on August 11 2008 5:23 PM

With the birth of this "fund", will there be a fee or fees for the party responsible for handling this fund? A committee perhaps or some lucky individual who is every ones pal? I await. Also the word "diversification" either real or imagined, who is responsible? I hope not some rose coloured glass wearing individual or group.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on August 11 2008 6:12 PM

I see some locals are trying to grow berries, but the moose got in there and eat the bushes so the guy has to start over.

The Prince George Airport Lands Agricultural Development Fund needs to fund something that will keep the moose out so farmers can use the land for more than hay.

Posted by: lunarbase on August 11 2008 7:00 PM

How can we be so happy with a $5,000 an acre tax ? Why has this so called great idea never been done to the thousands of acres removed from the ALR that is actually good farm land ? Like all the the land recently removed in Delta ? Will all future removal of ALR lands in other areas of the province be subject to this tax / fee ?

Posted by: robichal on August 11 2008 8:26 PM

At least now this land will be doing somehting...farming isn't exactly prosperous. In any case, was this land being used for farming...don't think so.

Posted by: He speaks on August 11 2008 9:24 PM

All right, we are going to move forward.

As far as 8.5 million, it will likely be closer to 6 million due to space required to build roads and green space.