Jinde Edition Farmhouse Slapped Down Again by Council of Agriculture; Chen Chi-chung Says Localities Have No Right to Set Their Own Format
The Yilan County government recently announced the "Yilan County Agricultural Land Application for Construction of Farmhouses and Agricultural Facilities Permitted Use Review Regulations (Draft)," which includes a provision that farmhouses plus agricultural facilities may not occupy more than forty percent of agricultural land area. In response, the Council of Agriculture held a press conference on the 22nd, where Council of Agriculture Deputy Minister Chen Chi-chung said that farmhouses and agricultural facilities cannot be lumped together. "The purposes of the two provisions are different; how can a combined application be reviewed? Is he applying for a farmhouse for residence, or applying for agricultural facilities for production?" He said that requiring farmhouses to be adjacent to roads is not administrative guidance but has a legal basis, and local governments have no authority to set separate formats.
Council of Agriculture: Will not attend Yilan County public hearing
The Council of Agriculture is also actively discussing, in the long term, aligning with the national land use plan to designate agricultural development zones, so that farmhouse management meets farmers' needs without affecting the production environment, but this is still under active discussion.
But faced with the central government declaring the conflict invalid, the Yilan County government has nonetheless proceeded with the draft and will hold a public hearing on the 23rd. Will the central government send anyone to attend? Chen Chi-chung said, "The Council of Agriculture's position is already very clear: a conflict is invalid. Today we have specifically laid out the regulations clearly, and we will not send anyone to attend."