A compromise has been worked out between the city and a hydroponic mushroom farm in southwest London.
Shogun Maitake, which operates a hydroponic mushroom farm facility at 6188 Colonel Talbot Rd., had asked city council to approve a zoning change that would allow for the severance of a small piece of land.
The request divided London city council with some arguing in favour of allowing the zoning change and others concerned about the future impacts if it were to be allowed.
Owner Yoshinobu Odaira wants to expand his business to meet growing demand for locally grown organically certified mushrooms and wanted to buy a 10 acre piece of land from a 45-acre lot. However, the request went against provincial policy which opposes severing agricultural land into lots smaller than 100 acres.
The compromise will see the creation of a 10-acre (4-hectare) parcel of land where Shogun Maitake currently operates. The severance will be contingent on the remaining land merging with the neighbouring land to create an area of at least 40-hectares.
Former Mayor Joe Fontana has been working with Shogun Maitake during the process and called the compromise a good news story.
“While we can argue certain provincial policy statements, the fact is this is a good news story for agri-food use in this area,” he said.
Shogun Maitake says it has seen a sharp demand for locally grown organically certified mushrooms in southern Ontario, Michigan, New York and Boston.
Monday’s meeting was the fourth time the committee has dealt with the issue since June. The compromise saves the city from a possible headache. Council’s inability to make a decision left them in a precarious position. When council voted on the issue Oct. 17, it was deadlocked 7-7. The tie vote came a day before the 120-day deadline for council to make a decision on the application.
If the compromise hadn’t been worked out, the mushroom farm could have appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board for a final decision, bypassing council.
Fontana says it’s a good deal for both sides.
“I think based on the hard work that’s been done by staff that we can accept the recommendation as put,” said Fontana.
Odaira says he has invested $5 million in the company, which employs 13 people.
The compromise will be up for a final vote at full council next week.