Chatham-Kent councilors will receive an update Monday concerning large-scale greenhouse development near urban areas, as well as lighting abatement.
Staff will recommend a bylaw to extend interim control for one year, a report released this week stated.
The province’s Planning Act allows municipalities to pass an interim control bylaw prohibiting the use of land, buildings or structures for such purposes, essentially freezing development on the land for up to a year, with the right to extend the bylaw for a further year.
“In order to enact such a bylaw, a municipality must direct that a review or study be undertaken in respect of land-use policies in the municipality,” the report stated. “It continues to be necessary to provide the municipality with time to undertake further study of future greenhouse development.”
Also noted were a number of regional utility projects underway that will affect future opportunities for greenhouse development in Chatham-Kent.
These projects, and opportunities resulting from them over the long term, will influence future land use planning policies concerning large-scale greenhouse development, the report added.
These include:
- the Enbridge panhandle regional expansion project;
- the Hydro One Chatham to Lakeshore transmission line;
- the Hydro One St. Clair transmission line project;
- the Hydro One Longwood to Lakeshore line; and
- the Chatham-Kent PUC Wallaceburg water treatment servicing study.
In December 2020, council passed a motion asking that staff return to council with a report on greenhouse light emissions.
In May 2021, council considered a report, Planning for Large-Scale Greenhouse Development, and decided to place interim controls on the development of new, large greenhouses near urban areas, as well as developing new regulations for greenhouse lighting abatement.
Draft greenhouse lighting regulations will be presented to the community development advisory committee on Tuesday. These proposed rules are similar to those in Leamington.
“Consistent regulations in the region are beneficial, as this issue is cross-jurisdictional and some greenhouse operations have a presence in Chatham-Kent and Leamington,” the report stated.
Leamington currently has a bylaw requiring 100 per cent light abatement for the side and end walls from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise, as well as 100 per cent ceiling abatement for the same time period, except between 2 am and 6 am, when abatement is required to be 90 per cent.
Chatham-Kent currently has two large-scale greenhouses using internal lighting.
“One facility is constructed and is operating voluntarily to these proposed lighting standards. One facility has stated plans to retrofit the facility in order to provide for lighting abatement,” the report added.
“A new bylaw would consider a timeframe for this facility to achieve compliance should regulations be adopted.”
It is expected that council will be presented a bylaw for consideration at a meeting in June or July.