Members of Mountain View County's municipal planning commission (MPC) have made comments on a new rural commercial district designation being proposed for the county.
During the commission's recent regular meeting, members were given an overview of the new district, which is being proposed to better deal with an increase in businesses and similar small-scale commercial activities being proposed in agricultural zoned land in the county.
Discretionary uses that would fall under the new district would include abattoir, accessory retain, agri-tourism, animal health-care services, auctioneering services (livestock and non-livestock), bed and breakfast, eating establishments (indoor and outdoor), farmers markets, horticulture use, and market gardens.
MPC chairman Greg Harris said the county will need to take care in establishing the thresholds for what uses fall under the new district.
“I would be really cautious about agricultural establishments being penalized because the majority of what they are doing commercially is marketing their agriculture product,” said Harris.
The thresholds should be more than just the amount of road traffic coming to and from the business.
The new district would apply only to uses that need a development permit, members heard.
MPC member Kim Walton said the county should consider whether rustic camping should be included under the new district.
MPC member Bob Nerrie said the county should consider whether businesses such as those selling firewood and sandbags should fall under the new district.
Regulations still under consideration that would apply to every development in the district would include: parcel area minimum 40 metres from the property line adjacent to any paved or hard surface county road allowance, front yard minimum 60 metres from the property line from any gravel county road allowance, minimum 15 metres from portable farm buildings and exempt accessory building, and rear yard minimum 15 metres.
“With requests of these types of uses increasing, and the need for potential farm diversification in Mountain View County, administration has acknowledged that there is a need for a rural commercial district to allow more agriculture related rural businesses to be permitted within the county,” said director of planning John Rusling.
The commission passed a motion receiving the information about the proposed district and instructing administration to forward member comments to council.
The proposal will now come before the county's policies and priorities committee for consideration.
"I would be really cautious about agricultural establishments being penalized."Greg HarrisMPC chairman
