The Mountain View County subdivision and development appeal board has held a hearing to consider a request to remove a screening requirement on a Sundre-area rural property.
The hearing took place on Jan. 8 in council chambers.
The appellant is seeking the removal of a condition imposed as part of a December 2018 development permit approval for industrial storage and warehousing -- outdoor storage on the property involved, which is located southeast of Sundre approximately half a kilometre east of Highway 760 (at SW 34-32-5-5).
The condition calls for the applicant to “submit a landscaping plan to the satisfaction of the county which shall provide screening in the form of vegetation and/or privacy screening/fencing along the westerly perimeter of the subject property. The landscaping shall be completed by Dec. 6, 2019 and shall be maintained to the satisfaction of the county.”
In the notice of development appeal, the appellant said, in part, that the screening would unreasonably “decrease manoeuvrability of vehicles within the site.”
Speaking to the board during the hearing, the appellant added, “I don’t want people to be upset, but I don’t think there’s any way we can commit or achieve these screening criteria. A fence isn’t going to help noise. It’s an unnecessary expense that doesn’t make sense.”
During the Jan. 8 hearing, one nearby resident said the screening is required to reduce the impact of operations on the property vis-à-vis adjacent properties.
“I think the only thing that would resolve the situation is a wall around the property,” she said. “I moved to the country for the quiet life and I’m not getting it. I need my sleep and I’m not getting any. I’d like a wall built around it.”
The board is expected to release its ruling on the appeal on or before Jan. 23.
