Mountain View County council has given first reading to a land use bylaw amendment re-designating land for an off leash dog park just outside Olds.
The motion came during the regularly scheduled Aug. 13 council meeting.
The applicant is the Town of Olds.
The 55.85-acre property is located in the Netook rural neighbourhood (NW 1-33-2-5), near the Olds landfill northwest of town off 70 Street.
The purpose of the bylaw is to create a direct control district to allow for the development and use of an off leash dog park.
An off leash dog park is described as a “fully fenced and gated open space, designated specifically for owners to allow their dogs off leash.”
The entire park must be enclosed with a chain fence with a minimum height of 1.52 metres.
A manure management plan must also be in place, including that disposal bags or other means of removing feces must be on site.
No restricted or vicious dogs as defined in the county's dog bylaw would be permitted on site.
“Olds Creek runs through the southeastern portion of the property, which also contains a large wetland that has historically been a Ducks Unlimited pond,” said director of planning John Rusling in a note to council.
In a letter of objection to the re-designation, property owners Debbie and Earl Wilton said they have several concerns with the proposal.
“We are concerned about our privacy being invaded by onlookers walking to the dog park from the proposed parking area,” the Wiltons said. “There is a section of land with no trees in that area which you are able to see directly into our backyard. Planting trees or shrubs for privacy coverage would be an option we would agree do.
“We are concerned about smell, runoff and garbage. Who will be monitoring the park to make sure poop is picked up and that disposal bags and garbage are not littering the park, possibly land in our backyard.”
In a letter in response to the concerns, the Town of Olds said, in part, that the park will be “maintained on a routine cycle as part of our regular schedule of garbage pick up with all our town parks.”
A public hearing for the bylaw has been scheduled for Sept. 10 in county council chambers.
