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LAND RESERVE COMMISSION AGREES TO THE EXCLUSION OF THE PROPOSED FORT ST. JOHN OSB SITE FROM ALRBURNABY — The Provincial Land Reserve Commission has agreed in principle to an application by BCR Properties to exclude land from the Agricultural Land Reserve in the Fort St. John area. "Earlier this year the LRC received an application from BCR Properties Ltd. to exclude land along Swanson Lumber Road from the ALR to facilitate the development of an oriented strand board plant by Slocan-LP OSB Corporation," explained Commission Chair Alan Chambers. "A key factor in the Commission's decision-making process was the importance of the proposed plant to the forestry and agricultural sector in the area as expressed by the City and Regional District. Other factors were the views of area landowners, the general public and other interested parties as expressed at our public meeting on May 22nd." Following an extensive review, the LRC's Northern panel decided the application could be approved BCR's complete application may be examined on this site. For further information or to arrange media interviews please contact Gary Hall at (604) 660-7000. - 30 - Background: The LRC was formed on April 1, 2000 when the former Agricultural Land Commission and Forest Land Commission were combined. It consists of Commissioners appointed by the Provincial government. The LRC has established three panels of Commissioners whose job is to make decisions on applications, visit properties under application and meet with individuals and organizations in different regions of the province. The panels are: Panel A (which covers Vancouver Island, the Islands Trust and the Kootenays), Panel B (responsible for the Lower Mainland and the North) and Panel C (the Okanagan and Central Interior). The Agricultural Land Reserve consists of approximately four and a half million hectares or 5% of the land mass of BC. The ALR can be thought of as a Provincial land use zone in favour of agriculture in which non-agricultural uses are regulated and farm activities are encouraged. The ALR is administered by BC's Land Reserve Commission, which is also responsible for the Forest Land Reserve.
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