Sustainable land use

Discussions in these parts last week focused on the sustainable use of land in Greater Vancouver. A number of meetings I attended and stories I wrote had to do with how to develop sustainable communities, provide space for industrial land users to grow, and whether or not to remove farmland from B.C.’s Agricultural Land Reserve. The issues are neither new nor unique to this part of the world. I’ve written several stories on all three topics, and sustainable development has its champions in the U.S., where communities are also grappling with the loss of industrial land and the need to preserve farmland.

The latest twist in B.C. is that some industrial land users are urging creation of an industrial land reserve similar to the existing reserve for agricultural land. I’m not sure it will happen, but the call speaks to the pressures industrial and agricultural land users face in a region that undervalues the contribution large-scale users of land make to the economy.

For the record, May 1 here was toasted with some ice cider from Quebec’s Domaine Pinnacle. With tart apple flavours and just enough sweetness not to pucker the lips, it didn't disappoint!