Guide to Edge Planning – Promoting Compatibility Along Urban-Agricultural Edges

Report Published by the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
July, 2008

“Currently, land being farmed in British Columbia produces just over half of our food requirements. There is, therefore, tremendous potential to expand agricultural production so that it plays a greater role in feeding our growing population. However, a major challenge we face is to effectively manage urban growth in a manner that protects existing farm operations and provides opportunities for the agriculture industry to continue to grow. Part of this challenge in ensuring urban and agricultural land uses can successfully co-exist will require that the interface between these land uses is effectively planned.

“The Guide to Edge Planning offers tools and techniques that can be applied to the urban-agricultural interface to promote compatibility. By increasing public awareness, employing landscaping and spatial buffers and encouraging neighbourhood-friendly land management practices on both sides of the ‘fence’, concerns and complaints that may arise between farmers and their neighbours can be minimized and at the same time allow farming to operate in a viable manner.”

Download the complete report here. (3.2 MB) 79 pages.