The Mountain View County municipal planning commission (MPC) has approved a development permit for a proposed agri-tourism business and change of use for accessory building application for a property in the Jackson rural community in Division 1.
The move came during the Jan. 17 regularly scheduled commission meeting in council chambers.
The property involved is located approximately one kilometre north of Highway 580 on the east side of Rge. Rd. 23.
“Currently, a large portion of the subject parcel produces annual crops,” administration said in a briefing note to the commission. “In addition, there are multiple garden areas surrounding the developed yard site. The applicant would like to raise livestock on the remainder of the undeveloped pasture lands for meat product (butchered offsite) for the business.”
The existing accessory building (a shed) is associated with the business, located within the developed yard site and is naturally screened by vegetation, members heard.
“The nature of the business is an ‘honest box’ whereby orders are completed online through a private group, and the shed acts as a pickup point.
“The shed will house the necessary appliances for food preservation. The food items that would be available will be produced both on and off site and include vegetables, fruit, meat, and potentially herbs, spices, coffee, canned goods, pre-packaged meals and other related items.”
Pickup hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, year-round.
“However the pickups are pre-arranged subject to the applicant’s availability. Most of the pickups occur on Thursdays and clientele traffic will decrease significantly in the winter months. The applicant anticipates up to 10 clients a day or up to 30 client visits a week.”
The county defines agri-tourism business as “a low intensity agricultural diversification and agri-tourism business that is secondary to the existing principal agricultural use of the land and is compatible with the agricultural character of the area.”
Administration was in favour of the application.
Storage, warehousing approved
Meanwhile, the commission approved a development permit for a proposed industrial storage and warehousing facility in the Rainbow Highway Industrial Park south of Carstairs.
The move also came at the commission’s Jan. 17 meeting.
The applicant for the permit is Inclusive Energy Ltd., and the property involved is a 2.12 acre parcel between the Queen Elizabeth II Highway and the 2A Highway, approximately 1.5 kilometres north of Rge. Rd. 290.
“Inclusive Energy would provide storage of storage tanks, separator vessels, rig matting, line heaters and office trailers,” administration said in a briefing note to the commission.
“The storage tanks come in three different sizes; 12 feet (ft.) wide by 20 ft. high, 15 ft. wide by 24 ft. high, and 15 ft. wide by 32 ft. high. The majority of the storage tanks are brand new. However, some may be reconditioned; these are cleaned prior to storage, therefore there shall be no potential for onsite contamination from the tanks being stored on the property.”
The amount of each type of equipment stored will be variable due to market demand, members heard.
“There will be no business conducted on site and no visitor parking available. As the property is located within an industrial business park it is acknowledged that the hours of operation associated with this application are 24 hours per day, seven days a week.
“Inclusive Energy mention on their application that the storage site hours of operation will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round. They may have one to three clients visiting the site per day accompanied by an employee for pick up/drop off.”
The applicant has outlined a landscaping plan where five per cent of the area is a landscaped feature, members heard.
“The landscaping will include shrubs and bushes on the south side of the site entry and spruce trees along the east side outside of the nine metre setback.”
Administration supported the application.
