Agricultural Lands Advisory Committee

Lennox and Addington County is putting the call out for volunteers to join its new Agricultural Lands Advisory Committee. The Committee will support the County's Land Evaluation and Area Review (LEAR) study by providing input to help assess and protect the County’s agricultural resources.

County Council formally approved the formation of the Committee at its Feb. 26 meeting. This comes after several months of consultation and preparation between the County and its lower-tier partners in Greater Napanee, Stone Mills and Loyalist Township.

“A really important part of the LEAR study is having local knowledge and community expertise to ensure that the study reflects the realities of rural Lennox and Addington,” said Stephen Paul, Director of Community and Development Services. “Having an advisory group made up of engaged community members with firsthand experience in agriculture and rural land is key to shaping informed decisions. The Committee would help us with on-the-ground knowledge of the County looking at potential changes regarding classification or re-classification of land, and changes, adjustments or additions.”

A LEAR study is a tool to help municipalities identify lands that may be suitable for designation as prime agriculture areas in their Official Plans. These studies use quantitative datasets to evaluate the agricultural suitability of lands based on soil capability as well as other factors that affect agricultural potential. The Committee will work in conjunction with municipal staff and the consulting team engaged by the County to help conduct the LEAR study.

Prospective members must be residents of Lennox and Addington and cannot be members of local municipal or County Council. Further, they should be individuals who exhibit a strong commitment to the community and a passion for rural Lennox and Addington and its future opportunities. They should also be able to make the time commitment to ensure full participation.

“Active participation from those who know the land best will help guide the study and support the future of our region’s farmland, and it will be the key to the success of this project. Our goal is to assemble a diverse group of community members who represent a broad cross-section of rural Lennox and Addington with different perspectives and expertise so that we can ensure a well-informed decision-making process as we move forward,” said Lennox and Addington County Warden Nathan Townend.

The application deadline for prospective members is March 27, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. For more information or to apply, visit the study website.