The Delta farming community has thrown its support behind the proposal to build a new cold storage warehouse and food processing facility on a site across from the Sunshine Woods golf course in East Ladner.
The application by Delta Fresh to construct a 323,509-square-foot cold storage warehouse and food processing building, as well as an administrative building that would have an area of 55,972 square feet, at 10555 64 Ave. was recently discussed at the city’s agricultural advisory committee where it was noted the Delta Farmers Institute is generally in favour of the proposal.
Committee members reiterated that Delta and B.C. products should be prioritized for the proposed facility.
As well, there should be assurances that any business activity on the site, current and future, benefit the agricultural sector, members noted.
The committee, which supported the application, was also told city staff are investigating the regulatory options to ensure that Delta products are given first priority, followed by B.C. or Canadian products.
To protect against a changeover from agricultural use sometime in the future, staff are also investigating having a restrictive covenant on the property as well as establishing agricultural-industrial zoning
B.C. Blueberry Council board chair Jack Bates, who’s also a member of the DFI, wrote to Delta council also conveying support for the application, saying farmers will not be able to compete without more processing and storage facilities.
He said the B.C. blueberry industry is rapidly growing with more than 600 growers and nearly 30,000 acres planted, and approximately 150 of those growers are from the Surrey, Delta and Richmond areas.
“Within the current infrastructures, the capacity to process the growing volumes is limited. A facility such as the proposed under the Delta Fresh project builds well needed capacity and enhances export capabilities,” said Bates.
Formerly called Earth King Investments Inc., the applicant wants to construct a cold storage warehouse and food processing facility at the rural site. It was almost a decade ago that a plan by Earth King Investments was pitched to develop the property into a housing complex for seniors.
The application was submitted this spring to develop the farm property adjacent to the Highway 91 interchange into the major industrial use.
Comprising six hectares (15 acres), the site is zoned agricultural but was pulled out of the Agricultural Land Reserve about 30 years ago.
Not being farmed, it's also surrounded by farm properties in the ALR as well as Burns Bog.
If the development goes ahead, truck access to the site would be confined to the Highway 91 and 64th Avenue interchange.
Planning staff are still reviewing the application.
A number of residents have already written to council expressing opposition, while the Burns Bog Conservation Society is also opposed, saying the development would threaten the existing biodiversity of the bog and prevent the restoration of ecosystems that could help maintain populations of plants and animals.
The Council of Canadians Delta-Richmond Chapter is also asking the city to deny the application.
“Our biggest concern is the integrity of the bog. The lagg, or ‘moat’ around a raised transition zone where runoff collects and keeps the bog functioning properly. Building on 15 acres of lagg and then adding paved parking would defeat the purpose of the lagg in protecting the integrity of Burns Bog. This area should be restored rather than destroyed,” wrote the group’s Lynn Armstrong.
