Concerns over pulling McLean Mill out of the Agricultural Land Reserve are misleading, according to the chair of the Agricultural Land Commission,
Jennifer Dyson says the city will have to submit an application for exclusion of property and host a public hearing, but no land swap is required.
Dyson, a long-time Alberni Valley resident and farmer, says while she has recused herself from the issue so far, she will direct her staff to assist with the process.
“I will get my staff to talk to (City of Port Alberni CAO) Tim (Pley) and even help walk through that process and the next steps,” she said. “It’s not a complicated process.”
Dyson said the city and MacMillan Bloedel would have asked the lands be placed in the ALR when the legislation was introduced in the early 1970’s because forests are included, but it shouldn’t be difficult to remove the mill site essentially making a hole in the middle of the doughnut.
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