A public hearing is scheduled to take place in Mountain View County council chambers on Aug. 22 for proposed changes to the land use bylaw regarding tree clearing and selective logging.
The changes would include new definitions for both selective logging and tree clearing/clearcutting.
Currently tree clearing is considered an exempt use in agricultural and agricultural 2 districts under the land use bylaw when not contained within an environmentally significant area (ESA).
When the clearing is currently proposed within an ESA boundary, the use is discretionary and requires a development permit.
The proposed amendments would define selective logging as cutting, storage, sorting and grading of primary forest materials for commercial use of the logs or fibre and include associated reforestation and reclamation activities.
Selective logging would be considered a discretionary use in agricultural and agricultural 2 districts.
As well, tree clearing and clearcutting would be defined as cutting down and/or the removal of trees other than for selective logging. It would be considered as a discretionary use in all zoning districts.
When a development permit application for selective logging is proposed, the applicant would be required to submit the following:
- A harvest plan to be prepared in accordance with the Alberta Timber Harvest Planning and Operating Ground Rules, and the plan is to be reviewed and signed by an Alberta registered professional forester.
- A location plan showing all hydrographic and topographic features, roads, buildings and residences within a half mile of the subject property.
- Haul roads to be used, and methods of dust control.
- A reclamation program and proposed end use for the subject property.
Regarding re-submission intervals, the updated section reads, in part, that “where a subdivision application has been refused by the approving authority, another application for the same or substantially the same subdivision shall not be considered within six months of the date of the refusal unless the approving authority otherwise directs, or unless the refusal was the result of an incomplete application in which case the six months does not apply.”
The scheduled Aug. 22 public hearing will also consider proposed amendments to environmentally significant area maps in the municipal development plan.
The proposed changes to the plan focus primarily on updating the maps currently used to delineate ESAs in the municipality, say officials.
More information is available on the proposed changes at mountainviewcounty.com.
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
