Following a public hearing, Mountain View County council approved a land use bylaw subdivision re-designation for a 76.62-acre property just outside Cremona, one 9.71-acre portion from agriculture district to residential farmstead and the remainder from agriculture district 1 to agriculture district 2.
The approval came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The property in question is directly adjacent to the Village of Cremona, south of Highway 580 east of the village.
There is a dwelling, detached garage, barn, open shed, five storage buildings and four horse shelters on the parcel.
The parcel is not within an approved area structure plan and therefore, the policies contained in the inter-municipal development plan and the municipal development plan were considered in the evaluation of the application, council heard.
A farmstead is defined in the municipal development plan as an “established residential site that previously contained or currently contains a dwelling and other improvements used in connection with the raising or production of crops, livestock or poultry, situated on the same land used in connection with the farming operations. Fragmented parcels may have been removed from the quarter section prior to consideration for a farmstead separation.”
In a letter to nearby residents, the applicant said, in part, “By subdividing the 10 acres will leave the property at a perfect size for animals to be on this property and the mentioned neighbours will only benefit as it will increase their feed sales along with new people to become a part of a great community.
“The subdivision request is one subdivision being 10 acres for the original home site leaving the second piece where I plan on putting my home.”
A number of nearby residents opposed the re-designation, including Ronald and Deborah Ward.
In a letter regarding the proposed re-designation, the Wards said, in part, that, “We are highly concerned about potential landowners that may have dogs or other pets that would interfere with the cattle and horses we have that would be living next to them. Pets out on the loose chasing our cattle or horse is not acceptable.”
Deborah Ward appeared during the public hearing, reiterating her concerns with the proposal.
She requested that the application be tabled until an area structure plan for the area is passed and in place.
In a briefing note to council, administration said it had reviewed the application and recommended acceptance.
“The proposal complies with the policies within the IDP, the MDP and the land use bylaw,” administration said.
Councillors passed a motion approving the re-designation. Council Duncan Milne did not attend the recent council meeting.
"The proposal complies with the policies within the IDP, the MDP and the land use bylaw."administration
