‘I’ll shut down if I have to;’ Millers Farm denied bylaw amendment to maintain trucking operations

Miller’s Farm says it needs additional revenue to stay afloat, but the city says it’s not fit to run trucking operations. CTV’s Leah Larocque reports.

A popular farm in Manotick known for its pumpkin patch and family fun in the fall, says they may shut down operations after being denied a bylaw amendment by the City of Ottawa.

Millers Farm and Market, located on Rideau Valley Drive, says they have expanded their operations on the farm to include trucking, snow removal and excavating to increase revenues. This requires part of their farm to be rezoned from agricultural to industrial or commercial.

Ron Miller has operated the farm for more than three decades and he says diversifying the business is necessary to stay profitable.

“We have to diversify in a farm here and a small farm, it’s 480 acres,” he said. “You have to diversify. If you don’t diversify, you’ll starve.”

Part of the proposed bylaw amendment would include:

• Removing the maximum size of 115 sq. metres for the retail business.
• Increasing the number of heavy vehicles that can park on the property from 3 to 51.
• Increasing the permitted size of outdoor storage from 100 to 5,255 sq. metres.
• Permitting the home-based businesses to sell items not produced on the premises.

“I’m asking to change the zoning so we can keep operating. They said we can’t do that,” Miller sad. “So, we’re fighting to change the zoning.”

The Millers are asking for less than two percent of their property to be rezoned.

The farm currently employs 12 full-time employees.

“I put 30 some years in here. I’ve been farming all my life,” Miller said. “I tried to pass it on for my son and his family, but this is the thanks I’m getting from the city.”

A city report says planning staff “recommend refusal of the Minor Zoning By-law Amendment for 6158 Rideau Valley Drive for the purpose of bringing the existing home-based businesses into compliance with the City of Ottawa’s Zoning By-law.”

“Planning staff do not believe that the requested amendments are minor or technical in nature,” the report reads.

“The current non-conforming land use of a trucking and excavation business in addition to other home-based businesses occurring on the property are at a scale that are not appropriate for a prime agricultural area. Home-based businesses are considered either agricultural-related or on-farm diversified uses when located on farms.”

Last week, city councillors voted 19-6 to refuse the bylaw amendment.

“I’m upset. I put my whole life into it. I’ve given back to the community. You can ask anybody in Manotick,” Miller said.

CTV News spoke with a neighbour who complained about the noise from the trucks. They did not want to be named for fear of harassment but told CTV News, “it’s like living beside an active gravel pit.”

The neighbour said they have never complained about the farming operations on Millers Farm and have only called bylaw due to the industrial commercial elements. They also believe they are not the only neighbour to complain.

Miller says he is considering appealing to the Ontario Land Tribunal.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” Miller said. “I’m not going to give up right now until the writing’s on the wall. But then you can fight for so long.”

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