5.5 Heartland Agricultural Policy Area

Goal:
To accommodate agricultural land uses while having regard for the rural, agricultural
character of the area, while recognizing the proximity to nearby heavy industrial land uses.

Intent

The Heartland Agricultural Policy Area is 1.6 km (1 mi) wide and surrounds the Heavy Industrial Policy Area. Property owners will be eligible to participate in the Voluntary Property Purchase Program.

Objectives

to provide and maintain a diversity of land uses within the ASP area; and
to allow property owners to participate in the AlH Land Trust Voluntary Property Purchase Program so that they can apply to have their home purchased at fair market value if they feel that industry is affecting the value of their property

Policies

5.5.1	Agricultural Operations	Sturgeon County shall permit for the continuation and expansion of both extensive agriculture (grazing, cropping) and intensive agriculture (greenhouses, market gardens) in accordance with other regulations and codes of practice.
5.5.2	Confined Feeding Operations	Subject to the required approvals from the NRCB, existing Confined Feeding Operations will be a permitted use in the LUB subject to all pertinent agricultural management regulations and codes of practice.
5.5.3	Subdivision	Sturgeon County will allow an un-subdivided quarter section to be split into two (2) 32.4 hectare (80 acre) parcels more or less, and one small residential parcel out of each (maximum size will be 1.0 hectares (2.47 acres) as per the Agricultural Heartland Land Use District). The municipality may exercise some degree of variance in terms of parcel sizes.
5.5.4	Existing Residences	Agricultural operations shall be encouraged to work with adjacent heavy industrial operations in an attempt to define mutually beneficial operating procedures in keeping with eco-industrial planning principles described in Appendix A of this ASP. This could include shared waste management treatment facilities and processes for utilizing waste heat or steam.
5.5.5	Encouraging Cooperation between Industry and Agricultural Operations	Agricultural operations shall be encouraged to work with adjacent heavy industrial operations in an attempt to define mutually beneficial operating procedures in keeping with eco-industrial planning principles described in Appendix A of this ASP. This could include shared waste management treatment facilities and processes for utilizing waste heat or steam.
5.5.6	No Institutional Uses	Given proximity to heavy industry, no institutional uses shall be allowed in the Heartland Agricultural Policy Area.
5.5.7	Eligibility for Voluntary Property Purchase Program	Property owners within the Heartland Agricultural Policy Area shall be eligible for the Voluntary Property Purchase Program through the Heartland Land Trust Society.