Regarding agriculture and…

Regarding agriculture and housing, I support allowing owners of agricultural lands to create additional housing WITHIN their lot boundaries, to provide housing for family members, farm workers, etc. Such housing could also add to the rental stock of an area, without increasing demand for services such as water and sewer systems. Such housing would need to be accommodated with, and limited by, existing or new wells and septic systems. For example, a new dwelling could share an existing well with an existing dwelling, if close by. Most farms are large lots that can easily support a second or third dwelling within the same lot, without exceeding the potential capacity of septic systems, etc. In fact, most farms already deal with large quantities of animal waste that dwarf the inputs from another dwelling or two. Historically, this often happened, that a secondary dwelling could be built for family members, and another for farm workers. Modern land use planning has often restricted such uses, and required severances to create new lots instead. That has had serious implications for farms, with the lots/dwellings being sold, fragmentation of farmland, people moving to the area who are bothered by typical farming practices, etc.

Creating this housing within the existing farm lot will avoid many of the concerns related to severances, people by unwilling to live near farms, servicing requirements, etc. It could also generate much needed income for farm families, which are often struggling and require off-farm income to get by. This could provide on-farm but non-farming income, which is compatible with continuing farm operations.

I do not support encouraging severances of agricultural lands to allow for creating new lots for housing, as that contributes to problems such as those referenced to above.

In general, I'd like to see continued strong protection for Greenbelt lands, natural habitats, and agricultural lands. Housing needs should be met through increasing density wherever possible. Building more large homes on the outskirts of cities will not solve the housing crisis.