Lakeshore takes another step toward making it harder to build large-scale greenhouses

Lakeshore is set to implement stronger laws that its mayor says will lessen the potential impact of large-scale greenhouses on residents.

Council voted Tuesday evening to move ahead with changing local planning laws early next year. Those changes would deter large-scale greenhouse developments by removing them as a permitted use in the zoning bylaw. It would also force those building them to follow a site plan that restricts their design and appearance. 

"As a council, we know we are limited in our ability to stop greenhouses altogether," Mayor Tracey Bailey said in a Tuesday night media release.

"This approach will give us the tools to limit the negative impact of these developments while ensuring they contribute to Lakeshore's long-term sustainability."

Under the new rules, council would have greater control over landscaping and screening of new greenhouses, how the buildings are arranged, traffic, housing for workers and setbacks from the road.

Outright ban wanted, but avoided 

Bailey says a lot of people wanted to see an outright ban on large greenhouse operations in the community, including most of council. 

"Speaking with residents, but also what I see with greenhouses in Leamington and Kingsville, I do not see anything good," said Coun. John Kerr, who supported an outright ban. 

"I don't see where the workers are going to be. I don't see where we're getting the money to fix the roads that are going to be changed."

Several councillors indicated they'd prefer a ban, but feared the municipality could face legal challenges — including from the provincial and federal government — which would overturn their choice. 

"It would cost the municipality a few $100,000 in legal fees to be able to manage it, and we'd have a low chance of success," said Bailey. 

The municipality currently has a bylaw in place that expires March 9, and fears that pursuing an outright ban — and having that potentially overturned — would leave Lakeshore with no mechanism to mitigate any impacts of large-scale greenhouses. 

The option chosen by council calls for any developer of a large-scale greenhouse to reach a site-plan agreement with the municipality, which could include restrictions on things such as light and odour emissions.

The move follows three years of public input, including an event earlier this year where residents said they worried about impacts such as light pollution. 

Jack Sullivan, a media relations director with Ontario's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said the provincial government is monitoring the situation in Lakeshore.

"Ontario's greenhouses play an important role in the province's food supply chain as well as the economy," he said.

"We will continue to provide guidance and resources to both greenhouse operators and municipalities."

Residents concerned 

The proposed changes council approved last night would mean the public could consult on all potential greenhouse developments. Greenhouses also wouldn't be permitted "as-of-right," meaning a property owner wouldn't have an automatic right to build one.

Resident Jill Miner started a petition, gathering more than1,000 signatures of others in the community who are against the greenhouses. 

She said she is satisfied with council's decision. 

"I do feel that the council's made a great decision in that they're not banning them but are asking for further bylaws to be created to be a little bit strict and have the rules in place prior to the developments coming in," said Miner. 

Chantelle Meadows, a Comber resident who was actively opposed to the greenhouses, says she's fine with the decision council has made but worries still has concerns like where the water is coming from, the smell, the light and where potential workers will live. 

"Ultimately I'd like to see no greenhouses, but this is the second-best option," said Meadows. 

"There's some big issues on the table ... we already have a water issue in Stony Point and in Comber, we can't build any more houses, so how are the greenhouses going to get these things?"

An increase of traffic is also a concern in the community, said Meadows, who said it's a safety issue for the community. 

Joe Sbrocchi, general manager and executive director of Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers (OGVG), says he is "disheartened" to hear that people don't want growers in the community when most people support the idea of locally grown food.

However, he understands some of the concerns. 

"We always try to work in any community in which we serve and I think we've demonstrated that with lighting, and a number of different other things in Kingsville and Leamington as of late, and these attempts will carry on in the future," said Sbrocchi. 

"We always try to work with the communities in which we serve and we'll continue to do so."

Municipal staff will come back with the proposed changes early next year. Bailey says the public can weigh in again then.

"This is the next step in the process, and we look forward to continuing to hear from members of our communities as the proposed amendments are brought back to council for consideration," she said.

Council will also write to the province about its concerns around greenhouses.