Mountain View County council has given first reading to a bylaw and set a public hearing date regarding the proposed re-designation of land to allow for the development of an event centre facility in the Rosebud rural community between Olds and Didsbury.
The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The land involved is located about one kilometre north of the Bergen Road along Rge. Rd. 21 (at NW 1-32-2-5). The existing parcel size is 26.9 acres.
The proposed re-designation is from agricultural district to direct control district and involves about 12.46 acres. As well, a related proposed re-designation involves 14.44 acres from agriculture A to agriculture A2 district.
In a submission to council outlining the proposed Cork & Crate Estate Event Centre, the applicant said, in part, “Agri-tourism is vital to educating people of the merits, responsibility and necessity of farming in rural Alberta. We envision this happening through the creation of an event centre situated amongst a manicured tree farm that grows hops, cereal crops, sunflowers, two acres of saskatoons, three-quarters of an acre of cherry trees, and multiple apple fruit-bearing trees, a greenhouse, as well as an array of small animals.”
The proposed development schedule would include the immediate “construction of an events centre, the construction of an event use area for overnight stays: RV and tenting (no water, sewer or power, this service is event specific only), and the construction of a horse barn on our main yard site and animal shelter located near the event centre.”
Future development at the site would include the “development of micro malting roasting facility and possible distillery, construction of a small chapel, and the construction of a staging/storage barn.”
The applicant said, “public consultation is planned with all neighbours and stakeholders. In fact, we have already spoken to our immediate three neighbours and they are all aware and OK with our proposed plan.”
The centre would be designed to host indoor and outdoor weddings and other special events.
“We plan to ‘knock you socks off’ with the most stellar landscaped property for your pleasure, experience, friends and families,” the applicant said.
“The business goal is to have the property used one or two times a week (May to October) in its busy season and one time a week outside the busy season (November to April). We plan to accommodate people any time they need it. We understand that people are getting married during the week to save costs and will offer a mid-week lower rental rate.”
The forecasted maximum capacity of the property would include seasonal capacity with tables of approximately 120-200, gravelled parking surface for 70 vehicles, additional grass parking of 140 units, and a maximum of 40 overnight stay sites.
The county has received a number of letters of objection to the proposed re-designation.
In one letter, two nearby landowners voiced a number of concerns, including water use by the new centre.
“Groundwater is the sole supply of water in this area for local residents,” they said, in part. Additional groundwater usage by public/commercial/camping facilities risks overuse of the aquifer we depend on for daily water. Additionally, due to significant sewer production increase of such a facility, there is a significant increase of risk of the groundwater being contaminated.”
In another letter, two nearby residents voiced concerns about possible increased road traffic.
“There will undoubtedly be an increase of traffic along Rge. Rd. 21, a road that is gravel construction and gets considerably rutted and potholed in areas that have a calcium dust suppressant This increase in traffic will also affect both the Bergen Road and Amerada Road as these will be roads that are used by event traffic.
“Having spoken with other residents we are not alone in our concerns. We feel consideration should be paid to these residents as well.”
Another letter writer said, “We understand there are already at least two other event centres similar to this proposal within close proximity. Is there really a need for another?”
The applicant provided the county with a letter responding to the neighbours' letters.
"Should the complaints of our neighbours lead to a negative decision by council or unreasonable requirements by the planning department then this would certainly be something that we would need to challenge given our investment to this point," the applicant said in the letter.
The complete proposal document, letters, and the proposed bylaw are available for viewing on the county’s website.
Council set March 13 as the date for the public hearing in council chambers.
