Pat Brady said he knows why experts have suggested that a block of farmland in Bradner would be an ideal location for a new industrial park in Abbotsford.

He just wishes the land wasn鈥檛 next door.

Brady was one of those who celebrated a year ago when the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC) denied a developer鈥檚 application to remove 224 acres of land from the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) in order to provide more industrial land. That decision, however, suggested the ALC might be more welcoming to a city-led application. Now, that has a become a real possibility following a report suggesting the block of land 鈥� on Abbotsford鈥檚 western border, just north of Highway 1 鈥� is one of the two best locations to expand the city鈥檚 dwindling supply of industrial land.

Council hasn鈥檛 yet made a decision but voted unanimously last week to ask the public what they think about possibly removing land from the ALR to provide room for large regional businesses to set up shop in the city. (Mayor Henry Braun and Coun. Kelly Chahal were absent.)

Along with the Bradner block, the report also recommended considering lands to the immediate north of Abbotsford International Airport. The two areas were previously identified as 鈥渟pecial study areas鈥� in the Official Community Plan adopted by council last year. But both are made up of parcels currently protected by the ALR.

That stage could be contentious. Many Bradner residents to the previous industrial park proposal and celebrated that plan鈥檚 rejection, although others did voice support.

Brady, one of those who led the opposition, said he will speak out against the proposal at an open house next week.

鈥淢y intention is to say nothing has changed,鈥� he told The News. Brady is concerned about the 鈥渢raffic and hassle鈥� the development would bring to his neighbourhood. He said the land is farmable, even if some say they鈥檝e failed in their agriculture endeavours.

At the same time, he said he understands why others may be eying the land.

鈥淚t鈥檚 an ideal location from an outsiders鈥� point of view,鈥� he said, noting the proximity to Gloucester Estates industrial park in 91原创.

had found that Abbotsford was running out of land for industry, and particularly for those regional businesses looking for large pieces of land.

The report presented to council Monday said that proximity to transportation and other businesses, along with level ground, were keys when assessing land鈥檚 suitability for industry uses. Just under one-third of Abbotsford workers are employed at lands designated for such use.

The report found the two special study areas had the highest potential for future industrial growth. Ned Pottinger of PGL Environmental Consultants told council the Bradner site had problematic soil and low suitability for farming, but that the site located north of Abbotsford airport had 鈥渞easonably good鈥� soils and, while having some issues, was still suitable for farming.

Council was told any removal of the lands north of the airport would see a contribution to the city鈥檚 agricultural fund, which was established following the removal of lands during Abbotsford鈥檚 City in the Country planning process in the mid-2000s.

Pottinger said contributions of around $20,000 per acre 鈥� or between $10 million and $15 million 鈥� would be made to the fund if the properties were removed from the ALR.

Mark Neill, the city鈥檚 director of community planning, said the site has farming suitability challenges given its location near the airport and other industries. The area under consideration has also been expanded slightly from that originally suggested in the city鈥檚 Official Community Plan to include properties between Mt. Lehman Road and Fishtrap Creek.

While they were voting to advance the process last week, councillors emphasized that no decision had yet been made on what, if any, parcels to ask to exclude from the ALR.

鈥淐learly we need to get ready for the jobs that are coming here,鈥� Coun. Sandy Blue said, before cautioning that 鈥渢his doesn鈥檛 say what the end game will be.鈥�

Coun. Patricia Ross said she has 鈥渟ome concerns about some of these properties鈥� but that getting public input is important. She also noted that, contrary to the staff report, any plan to ask for the exclusion of land would be made in the project鈥檚 fourth and final phase, rather than its third phase.

Coun. Brenda Falk said that the city needed to ensure people could work close to where they live, but that 鈥渁t the same time we have to really, really balance the needs of food, where our food is coming from and how we protect farmland.鈥�

The next stage will see open houses held for each of the two study areas, after which staff will report back to council.

An open house on the Bradner block of land will be held May 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Bradner Community Hall.

A second open house, for the lands located north of the airport, will be held May 18 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Abbotsford Traditional Secondary School.