George Aylard is a second generation farmer. He’s spent all his
life on the land and is now expanding his dairy farm.on about 150
of the 300-acres on Wain Rd. he purchased some five years ago.
Earlier, he sold off 50 acres to John Kaye who was interested in
developing a nursery and another 38 acres tothe Mathesons who

The distribution of rocky and non-arable areas, alihough
representing less than one third of the retrieved land, would make
farming difficult.

Aylard maintains the 75 acres: probably contains 90 per-cent of
the “third’’, the rocky and. non-arable land. ,

| rene A ylacal Gough the land fui Bopliedic the B.C Land Come“: The area is made up of class four and class six: land zs class four
mission to take 75 acres of the 300 out of the Kerteahoral Land 's ate as the boven. Ore acceptable iirgr for ieee

. Reserve... The commission ruled the land must-stay in the AL R but aia SIN.18 termed non-arable. Aylard explains the majority
po ‘scant . a 7 = - of the housing would be constructed on class six land.

had no objection to development within that.75 acres.

. And Aylard says it was on those grounds the land was purchased. A former president of the B.C.Federation of Agriculture, Aylard

: 7 thus:

- divided on. two ‘issues. ‘concern-

Wgecond. is. whether: or

other.
contending ~

be should, be. used for ‘agricultural
“purposes only. :

‘like.
plan,’” said. Mi

-Aylard proposal since it -was,
oo first seen forwata tive years.

a shod be dete (A
oning commission

¥e Hehtly fram the rei ammenitation 1 North Snonieh c oune a follow

But then he ran into trouble.

His original application was for a simple subdivision with no
buffering but despite alteration to those original plans Aylard has

- never been able.to obtain North Saanich council’s approval for the

development.

‘Stories by Leslie Ellis, Peggie Rowand —

_ And although now. — for.the first time — a majority (4-3) has
swung behind him the battle is still on. -Aylard’s latest plan for.75

"cluster -houses on 15 acres, leaving 60 acres in natural woodland

with a: buffer strip, is being fought by three, alderman and: has
brought a continuing stream of letters to the editor from | people ob-
~ jecting to the development.

Aylard believes the ‘‘silent niajority out there”? - support his plan.
And he says the controversy boils down to. one question — what are

e “ the choices for the land, that 75 acres?.

- A report presented in March, 1980, on'a study carried out of

; .183-5:0f the 300 acres (which contained the 75) bya professional
sums up..

eAgrologist of the. soils branch, ‘ministry of agriculture,

“North” “Saanich | ‘council

USE, for that kind of land. 208
George: Aylard’ § proposal |
‘ ‘residential development
within the AER:

_ The: first. bone. 0 contention

ing.

land’ in: ‘question’ ranges from:

capability. “It states in the com-
‘munity: plan that this:is a* “good.
proposal | to develop.’

“Diek £ Ter: lin vea ux

“not thé:

proposal violates North”

“Saanich! § community plan,

The four council members

: who’ ‘supported “Aylard! goproe
” posal ine,
Spaniel § last: meeting feel there.

principle at North |
“provision the. plan. for |;
‘residential development: The:
three members. disagree, m
that. “ALR. land

ape? of. Ope.
~developments
AEE community
for Harold Par-\ |
supported | | the

vol! There's
POFUnihese..,
“this. in

all,

WW pean K

be 1 he ‘oll valli

ra before The tani { is Tesane Whe xls Wor yphag
we ‘ided it Ttirselay” ‘especial meeting. nee ee
The: ARG. vated 422) Vy favor. of Ihe new mation, which: “4 ries

ing the: APCS Jyne {7 meewngs | i
“lye new, motion focusses on ‘hs Set vile of the. land, :

-young professionals.

swell thought out, and a good

four. to: six, indicating: poor. soil :

oe which: would mean levelling the.

USE, for the land. The rest, would ie

' to, me that it Js economically {3 hee

va the: 15 acres, George Ayl urd hopes 0 deve! Op

‘aide

says‘a perennial problem has always been residential- -agr iculture in-

terface — and he’s dealing with that by using a 250-foot minimum

buffer strip around the circumference of the development.

“V’ve been to Holland and. England and seen residences abutting

farmland — no one seems to mind.

‘And if you start looking at alternatives, this is the best. way of
utilizing the land in a way that least disturbs it, :

Some people are concerned the development will not stop ‘shett
of the planned 75-houses.: That it will.establish a precedent. That
more houses will, sooner or ater be built on the remaining 60
acres. :
Aylard: says he thinks he can write in safeguards under the Strata
Title Act. “I’m no lawyer,’ he says, “‘but ’'m prepared to doit.”

But the 75 homeowners — all owning one acre cach — might |

agree.to further expansion. Aylard-admits the possibility but-says
the fact that people would want to buy.in to aie one-acre minimum

development indicates ‘‘that’s their lifestyle.’ ;
He sees the housing appealing to two groups — retired people,

many of whom would already be. living in North Saanich; want to
§tay put but can no longer. look after. their own property’ = and

Ald. Chris Lott said the pro-

posal is set Out ‘to protect the
Soil © classification for: ‘the =

rural- residential. “environment- :
the: community. plan. calls fore
I 'S: sensible» use Fofe land that

: can te be used for anything e else.

. “My feeling

Eugene Bailin

~The ‘three council: members’

‘who do not support the: Aylard:
& Proposal. are. auickst ike) give their
reasons, nee
“Is not in ‘the. interest ‘of the
“residents of North Saanich to
» plant
of the ALR" said) Ald, Loyd
~Harrop.: “He would be setting: é
dangerous. precedent. o..say: in
effect. that land with soil classed:
four to. six should be used. for.
“housing.” Harrop : said = some
vegetable. Crops: cane be “grown
even in poor soil. ae
The: development. conflicts
directly. with the’

“Chris Lott

posal _ “maybe not “the: more
“vocal ones,’ he said. :
Ald. Barbara Brennan. made.
her position clear in Jast week's.
letter to the editor, She sees the
> Aylard » proposal: as. the the.
‘ _ closest thing, to keeping the land
“asitis.. yt :
“Farming. in. the: area: would ae
have! sto bes none -soilbound.:

_ ground: “to pur Up. buildings.

“That: would» destroy. the Jand
forever.'" Brennan said clearing
18 of the 75 acres for housing»
would be the best and highest

tial settlement around the ALR.
“The plan doesn't -allow.: for

and. Idon't think it should."

made |
M “ Saunich's. : crural
AT he | ‘dily. Nomebody proves. with | Hts low: population
Pressure, 1ANes and crime rate,

cea Rebecca : “Vermeer: says:

preserve. North:

ve The Avlard propasat is ane ‘of the better saaporals' for ihe fand
ne fares bean gavhers it in fact no other apricultoral use is possible.”

land mast: stay inthe AL P, nnd that df rhe soils Ingeifiention: of thes
~and.wals: proved unsuitable for either, soilbound: ar none scilbound.

FREE : PRESCRIPTION
DELIVERY

L.A:
“CAROL THOM S
Pharmacist-Manager

George Aylard |
Previous zoning was 10-acres but Aylard says sa return to that
would ‘desecrate the property.’ ‘The 10-acre. lots would: be sold to
people who wanted smallholdings (which have. the possibility of’be-

 soilbound:
: agricultural. use. was’ found:for:

200 people. in the middle

community 7
aplan, which envisages ‘residens

“development within’ the: ALR MORK Ee Es

Harrop paid ithe” plan, was”

‘environment,

“But would prefer.to see agricultural land preserved for that use!
The APCS original motion: on the Aylard proposal W ay thitt the, a

ing “‘messy’’) or others: who want to Keep horses or rJUSt< own later

landholding residences.

oA] i this plan really: represents the best use oot the land. ta

“advisory planning. commission .

recormmended the: proposal. be:
accepted: ‘by. council only if no,
or. non- P ilbeuaae

the land, Vermeer. said some.
council members either missed
“that. point or were not willing. to
—Wwait'for study results.

Soil studies. are

presently

iindat. Say: The environmental
“advisory commission is prepar- ©

ing a-report: on the: land. for
council, The. provincial govern-
“ment is Now. re evaluating the
‘potential, of soil in the: area, ‘and.
could” upgrade.
Bill 62, “designed to amend. the:

‘tensive, agriculture, “is. in the:
“AMOF that should be taken
into. consideration: “Other. |
members. of council, are. hurry.

ving ity’ ra ' Said: Vermeer, Bes
“Her own “conclusion As: that
“there: ‘are farming uses for the
land. in question, She, said ‘any.
sr of development dn

Seret yghatacetatgacataetes mn
ae 4 ce
wat ‘ pares aietelalste bos

classification,

Municipal Act to. encourage in. a

tain i firthier information front t a ‘relinle ‘impart

Nhe AL R ‘would be. in conflict
with the community plan:

~“Pecan't see how. the. cxisting..

‘state of land would be preserved ©
if a residential development was:
put. ‘in,’ said — ‘Vermeer, who.
doubted the ‘developer's : ‘claim |
that only 1S*of the. 75 acres. in
question’ “would. have to. be™

clei nee for the. Beetle revere: :

ment.

the: land. commission:

‘The issue ‘will be brought to.
before

final approval: and Vermeer ene

‘courages: publie. input at this”

stage,“ Whatl'm finding is ‘that.

“gouncil simply. refuses to discuss:
Ahis matter. They’ re) arecluding
public input." OS ae

“Ald, Eugene Bailin has: been
“most! vocal. in his: opposition: tore

_nions were voided: last week and
July 17 in letters to the editor.

the Aylard. proposal, His: ‘ope.

i
ie

~ One point he, raised. was that.
‘North: Saanich already. has a 10

‘to 20 year supply of approved

Continued on Page B2:

proc ceding furthers! he told North Siainich counedl's last miei iit Fs

which states vary) leary." says. ‘one, APC “Mm
“preservation for ALR and ATIC nAL PUTHUIES.

The Sorrimissiont s miner one: iconsldgration, has heen’ that Ahe.

“agriculture, then three recommendations apply: preserve landsy Aye
as iL esingy overall: density. of one dwelling uit per ages and, pros
posed: dev glopment served by i Wf conan WEA E pyalelis Paaree
cae r his motion was defeated in he sense thatthe mover. myself,
and the seconder digpre ed as tS) thie specific , Stone wid.

“APC chairman, Rod Chack ug sreed with Ney: new. inmotion.
Although: the: applicant {or rezoning claims all or some ol the 78:
i eens s a Jot Man Lh QMS hay: AM Hayceut ile weg ' AM . bay ugha es

‘Dave Pendray supported the new ‘motion, which widhiuee spt
port fora residential development, in principle only. Bur Pendray
: “also supports. Aylard's’ proposal, ,

“think it's good idea, fv a nutshell, There's no other de
non deidebllaand I think at {Bead y use Aas Woke le

ss SARC: member. John Stone." The other niotion iende | to imply. we
approved vt he proposed: nUtallae tile development” otk dg 4 beeemat
The APC sind: Ise ie was: proven iar the land was nol. fit for.
ale ricalcal PUrpas dos either sofibound: or noisoilbound, then duce "
dant should: be rezoned? John Raye and Brians Neal. wojed Awainet
sti motion, pucforward by Joba Stane; oo nn
> Kave preferred nor toccomment on the issue but Stone wid tA
“this Paint “m ngningt Ine. iden ol destroying the Ali He, Jaeger age

“stitute, said, ns $ pretty sligite as 6 fara as | can tell fi

panne “rie ‘adtdpacebyyy enter Mine Inncidow thie nleoe nt RrAner, We