Port Metro Vancouver eyes Richmond land to develop for industrial use

A feud is brewing between Port Metro Vancouver and the Mayor of Richmond over a large parcel of land in the city, which has been used for farming in recent years.

The port has expressed interest indeveloping the land for industrial uses.

In 2009, the portbought a 100-hectare parcel of land known as Gilmore Farms, on No. 8 Road in Richmond, just south of Vancouver.

Since then, the land has been leased to farmers, but its future is now uncertain.It issurrounded by other port-owned land and the federal body has expressed interest indeveloping it into industrial space.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodieis against the idea.

'Kingdom within the city'

"Idon't concede that the federal government,through the Port Metro Vancouver,governed by a board that is made up of up of people in the industry, has the right to set itself up as a kingdom within the city of Richmond,and do what it wants," Brodie said.

But the port's CEO, Robin Silvester, said there's a dire shortage of industrial land in Metro Vancouver and more discussion is needed about how to balance the two.

"We've run out of industrial land," Silvester said.

"We've lost for the ability to serve our mandate for the nation and we have to start thinking about things we don't want to think about, likeconverting agricultural land."

The port authority is responsible for the stewardship of federal port lands inand around Vancouver.

Its current lease on the Richmondland expires in 2018.