6,000-name petition on size of ALR home presented to Richmond council

The escalating debate over the size of homes being built on farmland in Richmond, B.C,. has generated a 6,000-namepetition that was presented to city council on Monday night.

The Richmond Citizens' Association is demandinga cap on the size of homes being builton agricultural land to just over 5,300 square feet, roughly half of what's currently allowed.

The group argues homes larger than that are driving up prices and reducing arable land.

"We are not getting farmhouses necessarily built on farmland.We are getting estates built on farmland compete with tennis courts and swimming pools and indoor theatres," said Kelly Greene, a member of the association.

"We are hoping that by reducing the house size, we are going so see something that is more conducive for actual farming," she told Stephen Quinn, the host of CBC's The Early Edition.

The petition is circulating online and as a printed copy.

Argument for large houses

Last May, the city imposed a sizelimit of 10,700 square feet on homes being built on ALR land in Richmond.

Some landowners in the area argue that restricting house size further would harm farmers' livelihoods, especially for multi-generational families living under the same roof.

A second petition, circulated by the Richmond Farmland Owners Association, is asking the current size restrictions be retained. They have about1,000 signatures on two petitions.

"A lot of these farming families are large family units.There are multiple generations living under one roof," said Gunraj Gill, who has been hired as a consultant and spokesperson for the association.

He works with members of the association who own 68 individual properties across 2,500 acres of farmland.

Right now, there are homes for sale on Richmond Real Estate ranging from $3 million to $5 million that are 5,000 square feet orless some of themoffering up to 10 bedrooms.

A rally was planned for 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26 outside Richmond City Hall. The petition was presented atthe 7 p.m.council meeting.

With files from The Early Edition.