The Mountain View County municipal planning commission approving authority has OK’d development permit and subdivision applications in four county divisions.
The approvals came during the commission’s recent regularly scheduled meeting in council chambers.
The commission approved a development permit application for a change of use from agricultural building to farm gate store and business, agri-tourism (Tall Timber Cattle Company).
The subject parcel is located approximately four kilometres south of Twp. Rd. 320 on the west side of Rge. Rd. 55 in the Bergen rural community.
“The subject parcel currently operates a cattle operation,” administration said in a briefing note to the commission. “The applicant is proposing a farm-site store, selling beef from cattle raised on site, humanely and sustainably on the subject parcel without the use of antibiotics, hormones or steroids.
“Initial sales anticipate four to five animals a year up to 52 animals a year at full capacity. The packaged product would be sold from the proposed farm gate store space with an existing building and at high-end food stores in Calgary.”
The amount of product available will vary at any given time to a maximum of about 2,000 pounds of fresh and frozen beef products, members heard.
The business would operate daily with a maximum of two employees and less than 10 client visits a week and a maximum of two commercial related vehicles for product delivery per week.
One letter of objection was received regarding the application, with the letter writer expressing concerns with possible water contamination.
“I am concerned about dirty water, sewer and butchering water, coming on my property (located near the site),” the writer stated.
In a letter responding to the concern, the applicant said no cattle would be slaughtered at the site.
“The objector therefore should have no concern about water runoff contaminating his lands,” the applicant stated. “No change is proposed to the existing beef cattle operation on the lands referenced in the application.”
The approval comes with a number of conditions, including that the “remainder of the agricultural buildings on the site shall not be used for personal, business, industrial, commercial purposes or residential occupancy.”
Subdivision approved at Netook
Meanwhile, the commission approved a subdivision application to create one 40-acre parcel from an existing 158-acre parcel in the Netook rural neighbourhood at SE 30-32-28-4.
The subject property is located west of the intersection of Twp. Rd. 324 and Rge. Rd. 285 about 13 kilometres east of the town of Olds.
“As the manner in which the land is being used is not intended to change there should be a minimal impact on surrounding adjacent lands,” administration said. “The applicant has reviewed the proposed conditions of subdivision and has no issues.”
Caretaker dwelling permit OK'd
The commission also approved a development permit for a proposed dwelling, caretaker/manager on a property in the Eagle Hill-Westward Ho rural community about 10 kilometres north of Highway 27 on Rge. Rd. 44 and Twp. Rd. 44.
The proposed dwelling will be approximately 900 square feet and will be located north of the nearby recreation resort area, along the northeasterly portion of the quarter section.
“It will be used as a year-round, on-site residence for the owners of the golf course to provide caretaking and security services for the (nearby) resort and the golf club,” administration said.
“The applicant indicated that the ‘main reason for the house is so we can move to the area and the location was selected as I can supervise the RV park traffic and supervise activity between the park and the cemetery. I have services close by and I can control the gate easily.'"
The land use bylaw defines dwelling, caretaker/manager as “any building or part of a building used, or to be used by human habitation by a caretaker, security manager, or other persons involved in the specific commercial use.”
Time extension granted
Meanwhile, commission members also approved a subdivision time extension request for a property in Division 2 in the Fallen Timber rural neighbourhood at SW 28-30-5-5.
The extension was requested to allow the applicant to adequately survey the land, and specifically the bed and shore of the Fallen Timber Creek.
The commission approved the subdivision on July 19, 2018 to create one 74.59-acre parcel on the 156-acre subject property.
“Condition #4 (of the original approval) requires the applicant to provide a plan of survey of the parcel to be subdivided,” administration said. “In this regard the parcel contains a portion of the Fallen Timber Creek, in the northern area.
“The water body at this location was surveyed in the past and therefore the Crown has claimed the bed and shore of this creek. However, as this water body has changed over time the Crown requires re-surveying of this portion of the creek that forms part and is the subject of this subdivision.”
The process of surveying a water body can be lengthy, prompting the applicant to request the time extension beyond the original July 19, 2019 deadline. The commission agreed to a one-year time extension.
The planning commission is made up of county councillors and appointed public members.
