Pitt Meadows rejects proposal for vintage Mustang museum on farmland

Pitt Meadows council has rejected a proposal to turn part of a blueberry farm into a public vintage car museum.

Most councillors said the project, while impressive, belongs somewhere other than farmland, and rejected forwarding the application to the Agriculture Land Commission (ALC) on June 2 by a 4-2 vote.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I love it. Wrong location, and I’m saying that pretty strongly,” said Coun. Gwen O’Connell.

The project would have allowed a public museum showcasing a collection of rare Ford Mustangs on Agricultural Land Reserve property. It sought permission to convert part of a 1.8-hectare blueberry farm into what applicant John Messina called the “Messina Mustang Museum,” featuring 35 vintage Ford Mustangs and potentially offering automotive restoration programs for students in partnership with local schools.

The property on 19418 McNeil Rd. currently produces about 10,000 pounds of blueberries annually and includes a large agricultural building originally constructed as farm storage.

The application stemmed from a 2023 bylaw investigation after complaints about vehicle storage and related uses on the property. City staff said the proposed museum would conflict with agricultural land policies and could create precedent for other non-farm uses in the area.

Staff also warned the building was constructed under agricultural building standards and was not designed for public occupancy without significant upgrades.

Coun. Alison Evans said council’s role was ultimately to decide whether the use qualified as farming activity.

“Arguably it’s not farm use, and I think our decision here today is whether the activities on site are farm use,” she said. “I have said many times that I stand for protecting farmland and making sure that it’s used to its highest and best use.”

Evans said she appreciated the applicant’s passion and the collection itself, but raised concerns about safety, tourism impacts and bringing school groups into an agricultural building not designed for public use.

“I’m concerned about the state of the building. It’s a farm building, and it’s not to code for these types of activities,” she said.

The proposed museum would have occupied part of a 16,456 sq. ft. agricultural building built in 2012 over the foundation of a former mushroom facility destroyed by fire. The applicant argued the structure is already used seasonally to support the farm operation and that the museum concept would create educational opportunities for youth interested in automotive trades.

Through representative Kerry Morris, the applicant told council local schools and technical institutions had shown interest in partnering on programming but had not wanted to participate publicly while the application remained uncertain.

“None of the schools and technical schools — there’s three — wanted to be part of a political process,” Morris said, adding the earliest educational programming could realistically start would now be 2027.

Supporters of rejection repeatedly pointed to concerns about precedent.

Coun. Mike Manion said councils have a responsibility not to overload the ALC with proposals that clearly fall outside agricultural use.

“Our decision tonight is based on a simple question: Is this an appropriate farm use?” he said. “And if not, then it needs to be defined.”

The city’s Agricultural Advisory Committee previously reviewed the proposal and raised concerns about precedent, traffic and compatibility with surrounding farmland.

Staff said surrounding parcels are actively used for forage, berries, vegetables and greenhouse operations, and warned that introducing public museum traffic could increase pressure for future non-farm uses in the agricultural area.

Not all councillors agreed the city should end the discussion, with Couns. Bob Meachen and Mike Hayes supported forwarding it to the ALC.

Meachen said he sympathized with the applicant and suggested the city consider allowing a temporary use permit to test whether the concept could work without creating long-term impacts.

“I understand the amount of passion that’s gone into this collection,” he said. “Some beautiful looking vehicles.”

Hayes also said he was impressed by the collection but wanted the ALC itself to weigh in.

“I would support forwarding this to the ALC to see what they would have to say regarding the merits of this motion,” he said.

The proposed museum would have displayed rare Mustangs from the 1960s and early 1970s, with the applicant describing the collection as focused on historically significant models that many enthusiasts rarely see in person. The museum concept also included plans for restoration workshops and educational programming for students interested in automotive trades.

Morris criticized the complaint process that led to the application reaching council, arguing the original complainant was motivated by a failed property purchase attempt.

But for most councillors, the issue remained less about cars and more about protecting farmland.

“This would be so great in a spot that was great for tourism,” Evans said, “but not on our farm roads.”