Lakeshore Council defers greenhouse development plan, requests further study

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By Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter

The Lakeshore Council has upheld its cautious approach to the potential development of greenhouses across the municipality.

The council, in a meeting held on Oct. 1, 2024, deferred consideration of a report on a study exploring the creation of a Greenhouse Business Park, a proposal that would centralize large-scale greenhouse operations in one designated area within Lakeshore.

Besides deferring the report, the council requested revisions to the Official Plan Amendment No. 18, which was submitted to the County of Essex in 2023 and remains under review.

The requested changes include an annual review of regional trends related to greenhouse development, an analysis of the potential impact of future water main expansions, and a review of land prices and demand for greenhouses in the municipality.

The council’s actions reflect a continued focus on balancing economic development with environmental and infrastructural considerations as the region grapples with the growing demand for greenhouse space.

“We recognize that we are limited in our power to reject greenhouses altogether,” said Mayor Tracey Bailey. “However, we will continue to step up and make sure that our residents’ concerns are heard, and that the litany of negative impacts are addressed before greenhouses can call Lakeshore home.”

The interim report on the study also noted that, due to a number of factors, there is not currently a demand for greenhouses in Lakeshore. These constraints include a lack of water capacity, as well as electricity and natural gas.

The requested changes to the Official Plan, Mayor Bailey added, will ensure Lakeshore is well-positioned to respond to an increase in demand for greenhouses, if necessary.

“As the report noted, Lakeshore is not positioned to facilitate the development of a large-scale greenhouse project. As is the case with housing growth, developing any type of industrial land use will continue to be dictated by where our infrastructure will allow it,” said Mayor Bailey. “Council will better understand the scope of the required investments in the upcoming Water and Wastewater Master Plan.”

The Water and Wastewater Master Plan will be presented to the council at the regular meeting on Oct. 8, 2024.

At a meeting in Feb., Lakeshore Council reviewed Official Plan Amendment No. 18 and included additional measures designed to eliminate the potential negative impacts of greenhouses such as lighting, odour, and stockpiling of waste. The council also expanded setback distances from settlement areas, updated language to include all commercial greenhouses, and added requirements for community impact analyses. The Official Plan Amendment was approved by the council in March of 2023, then provided to the County of Essex for final approval.

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