City of Port Alberni ALC Exclusion Application

City of Port Alberni ALC Exclusion Application

Submitted by darlings on Feb 24 2022 - 6:31pm.

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Port Alberni, BC – The City of Port Alberni has received notice of a decision from the Agricultural Land Commission [ALC] in response to the City’s application to exclude 11.5 ha of land located at 5366 Smith Road, Port Alberni and commonly known as the McLean Mill National Historic Site.

Following receipt of a letter of non-compliance in 2020, the City made an application for non-farm use of the site. The ALC rejected the City’s application but noted that the panel would accept the submission of an exclusion application and in March of 2021 an application was submitted following the direction of Council.

With the intent of the Agricultural Land Reserve [ALR] and the mandate of the ALC in mind, the City proposed to retain 1.3 ha of the 12.8 ha property within the ALR; minimizing the exclusion area. As a result of the decision, the excluded portion of land will enable the City to continue with the highest and best use of the Site which is currently managed on behalf of the City by the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce.

“As business operators of McLean Mill since 2020, the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce has faced significant challenges given the land designation and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We wish to thank the Chamber for their innovation and persistence through these difficult times. We are happy to now have certainty in moving forward and proud to be able to showcase this incredible historic site to our community and visitors, said Mayor, Sharie Minions.”

Council wishes to extend our thanks to to the Agricultural Land Commission in considering the City’s applications.

Under section 33.1 of the Agricultural Land Commission Act (“ALCA”), the Chair of the Agricultural Land Commission has 60 days to review the decision.

##

For More Information

Sharie Minions, Mayor

City of Port Alberni

250.723.2146

sharie_minions@portalberni.ca

 

Scott Smith, Acting CAO |Director of Development Services

City of Port Alberni

250.720.2807

scott_smith@portalberni.ca