The Garden City Lands Legacy Plan was back in front of the parks committee on Tuesday with a revised north-south orientation, a re-located wetland at the south end of the proposed park and a renewed promise to explore the hydrology of the land as to maintain its precarious ecosystem.
The plan calls for up to 50 acres of intensely farmed plots, 73 acres of natural environment and 15 acres for "flexible community use integrated with natural and agricultural features."
The lands will be divided by a zig-zagging path from the southwest to the northeast that serves to divide conserved, natural land and that which will be used for farming and community uses.
Much of the natural setting plans to be a large bog sanctuary featuring a rare moss species. The city hopes to build boardwalks and lookouts throughout the bog. A wetland will help regulate water levels of the bog.
Meanwhile, the revised plan notes there continues to be dialogue with Kwantlen Polytechnic University to have sustainable agriculture students help maintain small farm plots along with community groups.
However, questions still remain as to the extent of how much the plan proposes to delineate from the Agricultural Land Reserve, namely the community use portion.
In a letter to the city in April, the Agricultural Land Commission noted there are several parts of the plan that could require an application to alter the land use of parts of the land.
"Specifically, 'Community Fields,' 'Informal Play' and some other 'Parkland Spaces & Circulation' uses did not strike the Commission as being consistent with [the Agricultural Land Reserve]," the letter noted The 137-acre Garden City Lands is in the ALR, and as such the land is governed by the ALC for agricultural purposes only.
As noted in the report, "the plan proposes some uses that will require ALC approval."
It also acknowledges there are "different site elements that may 'push the envelope' while respecting the ALR."
The plan is a long-term vision and as such there are many elements that have no specific plans.
One prior concern from agricultural proponents was that some of the fields would be artificial turf. The city has vowed no such plan exists.
Parks manager Mike Redpath told the Richmond News the plan does not call for organized sports fields, but rather open spaces for passive recreation.
The plan does call for an 80-car parking lot that will be lined with fruit trees; however, cars will also likely park diagonally along No. 4 Road.
The city hopes for the lands to become a vital community hub, providing a cultural landscape for the growing City Centre area as well as adjacent neighbourhoods such as Garden City and West Cambie.
