www.mapleridgenews.com - THE NEWS -- Friday, May 10, 2013 -- 5
‘This is better than fallow farmland’ Robson from front
The Robson family invested in the property in the mid-1970s and planted several acres of Scottish Heather, that is still grown on the property. Over the years, neighbouring properties were purchased and a large hazelnut grove was added. Poor soil conditions, pest and disease eventually wiped out much of the orchard. After the loss, the Robson wanted to maintain the “uniqueness of the property” so decided to turn a portion of it into a golf course to “sustain” their non-profit society. Construction of the golf course began in 2005. It currently has about 30 members. “This is better than all the fallow farmland you see around,” said Robson. Today, the Robsons raise 27 sheep on the property and are testing a genetically modified species of blight-resistant hazelnuts they hope to eventually plant around the property. The wool from the sheep goes to local weavers and they are eventually sold for meat. Charities and church groups often use the golf
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Gordy and Mary Robson have sheep and lamas on their Heather Hills property. course for fundraisers, with Robson estimating they’ve raised more than $100,000 since Heather Hills opened. They also use the land to promote farming, while using revenue generated from the golf course to support the non-profit society’s work with youth advocacy, sports and community groups. The “club house” the district wants him to remove is a removable tent structure, while the “food and beverage service” consists of a small bar fridge with pop and water and an assortment
of packaged nuts. Robson was surprised by the law suit. The property is classified as “farm class” by B.C.’s property assessment authority, which permits agri-tourism. He has a business license from the district for agri-tourism and got a legal opinion in 2011 to make sure that a golf course met the requirements of the Agricultural Land Commission Act. The land commission considers the golf course a nonfarm use. “I don’t know why they are coming after me,” said Robson. “It might
be political.” Robson has yet to file a statement of defence, but has hired municipal litigator and civic law expert Johnathan Baker as his lawyer. Robson was the mayor of Maple Ridge for one term, but was defeated in 2008 by the district’s current mayor, Ernie Daykin. It’s not the first time he’s tussled with the district in court. Robson sued the district over a P-3 downtown redevelopment project that eventually led to the project being declared illegal.
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