Mountain View County (MVC) council has defeated the proposed re-designation of a property in the Reed Ranch community southeast of Olds from agricultural district to residential farmstead district.
The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“This application proposes to re-designate a portion of SW 23-32-28-4 to residential farmstead district in order to subdivide the first parcel consisting of approximately 3.67 acres that is in the concentrated confined feeding operations area in accordance with the municipal development plan,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“The proposed farmstead site consists of a dwelling unit, detached garage, sheds and a Quonset that is serviced by a water well and a septic tank system."
The proposal is surrounded by mature trees, while the reminder of the quarter will continue to remain as farmland, council heard.
“The proposal is in the northeast corner of the quarter which offers higher elevation in relation to the western area that slopes towards a waterbody that forms as a coulee complex that extends southwards to Burns Lake.”
Administration said it could not support the re-designation.
“Planning and development cannot support this proposal as the applicant could not provide information regarding the cancellation of the confined feeding operation adjacent to the subject property, as outlined in the municipal development plan (MDP). Therefore, the proposal is not compliant with the county’s MDP,” administration said.
Councillors defeated the re-designation motion. Coun. Greg Harris was not at the April 11 council meeting.
Meanwhile, council has deferred a decision on the proposed re-designation of a property in the Dogpound neighbourhood from agricultural district to residential farmstead district.
The move also came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The property involved is located within SE 16-29-3-5 and covers 5.75 acres at the intersection of Twp. Rd. 292 and Rge. Rd. 33 southeast of Cremona.
“The intention of the applicant is to re-designate and subdivide the existing residential site for the purpose of selling the property,” administration said in a briefing note.
“This will help fund the applicant’s existing residential development located north of the proposal on NE 16-29-3-5."
Administration supported the proposed re-designation “as it complies with the definition and policies for residential farmstead district as outlined in the MDP.”
Council deferred a decision on the matter pending more information from administration on the status of nearby roads.
Meanwhile, council has rejected an application for the proposed re-designation on a 151-acre parcel in the Westerdale neighbourhood in Division 3 from agriculture to county residential.
The move also came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The re-designation was proposed to create a new residential parcel containing one dwelling and paddocks within a previously subdivided quarter section at NE 34-32-2-5 northwest of Didsbury.
“The proposal is within the agricultural preservation area of a previously subdivided quarter section and would be considered a second parcel removed,” administration said in a briefing note to council.
“This does not meet the requirements of policy 3.3.5 of the municipal development plan, which states that only the first parcel out of a previously unsubdivided quarter section shall be generally supported for the creation of one additional parcel.”
Coun. Duncan Milne and Coun. Greg Harris both spoke against the proposed re-designation, saying the county should adhere to the Municipal Development plan.
The planning and development department supported a motion of refusal for the application.
All seven councillors voted against the proposed re-designation.
Meanwhile, council approved the creation of an unfunded liability account for post closure clean up of contaminated site in the municipality.
The move also came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
In a briefing note to council, administration said the creation of the county will allow the county to provide funding over time to meet its environmental obligations.
“As part of the 2017-year end Mountain View County has recognized $3.6 million in liability in relation to the clean up of several contaminated sites,” the note states. “The contamination has been caused by hydro carbons and salt.
“ In 2018 MVC will hire a consultant on a 3-year contract to manage our environmental files. Part of their scope will be to conduct an evaluation of these listed liabilities by location to see if alternatives instead of the high-end remediation solutions are possible.
“As well they will be doing an initial assessment for potential liability of other sites not listed in the attachment provided.”
All councillors voted in favour of the motion.
