2009 News and Information
City to Review its Position on Garden City Lands
13 February 2009Richmond City Council will review its position on the future of the Garden City Lands now that the Agricultural Land Commission has rejected an application to have the lands removed from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR).
The Garden City Lands are 136–acres of vacant property located on the eastern edge of Richmond City Centre. The federal government previously declared the land surplus and transferred its ownership to the Canada Lands Company with the intention the land be shared between the City of Richmond and the Musqueam First Nation and the Canada Lands Company.
The City, Musqueam and Canada Lands reached an agreement to divide ownership of the property, subject to it being removed from the ALR. The Musqueam would be allowed to develop their portion of the property, subject to City land use controls. The City intended to use its portion of the property for parkland and other community uses.
The City had applied for the exclusion of the property from the ALR last year, on behalf of its partners. The rejection of the application was not unexpected. In December, Richmond City Council declined to amend the exclusion application or to extend the City’s Purchase and Sale Agreement with Canada Lands and the Musqueam beyond December 31, 2008.
However, the Garden City Lands remain of critical importance to the future of the community. The City is committed to seeking to ensure the long-term needs of the community are taken into consideration in any decisions that determine the ownership, control or use of the lands.
Richmond City Council has committed to formulating policy expressing its own hopes in regards to the future of the Garden City Lands. The City will continue to pursue its interests in the Garden City Lands through discussions with its partners – the Canada Lands Company and the Musqueam – after Council formulates its position.
