CARSTAIRS - Mountain View County council has been given another update on the proposed Rocky Mountain Motorsports Park proposed for east of Carstairs.
The update was given by Matthew Pawlow, the county's planning services manager, during council's Feb. 22 regularly scheduled meeting.
Rocky Mountain Motorsports has proposed constructing a multi-million-dollar facility, which could include a motorsports racetrack, a driver training facility, a business area, commercial retail services, outdoor recreation and sports fields.
Bylaw No. 14/16 redesignates the 545.64-acre parcel near Highway 2 from agricultural district to direct control district.
If eventually given final reading, the redesignation would provide for the opportunity to develop a motorsports park at the site, located at SE 12-30-1-5 and NE 12-30-1-5 in the Wessex rural neighbourhood of the county.
A public hearing was held on Dec. 14 and since then administration has been awaiting the receipt and review of a number of documents.
"I can indicate that we did receive a revised concept plan as of (Feb. 21), so administration is conducting a review of that concept plan with the additional information since the sound impact analysis and the transportation impact assessment have been accepted," said Pawlow.
"There were some amendments proposed by the applicant to the direct control bylaw, so we are just confirming if those proposed changes by the applicant could be something that administration could consider as an amendment to the bylaw. So that information would be brought forward at the time that we would consider second reading."
Administration has also been meeting with Alberta Energy Regulator officials, he said.
"The main component that we are focusing on right now is our discussions with the Alberta Energy Regulator and that is to get a better understanding of the setback requirements as well as the use classification," he said.
"We have spoken with three different levels with the AER, initially with their technical review committee, then their legal counsel and now their manager of emergency management operations.
"We are trying to get clarity between all these different levels of how this application would be reviewed should it be considered for approval and then proceed to the subdivision and development stage."
Councillors are expected to receive another update on the project at the March 8 meeting.
Councillors passed a motion that on March 8 a decision will be made on whether a special council meeting should be held prior to April 12 to consider second reading of the bylaw for the proposed redesignation.
Hundreds of area residents have signed a petition against the proposed facility. Opponents have expressed a number of concerns, including possible increases in noise levels, traffic, trespassing and crime and possible negative impacts on area property values.
The applicant says the facility could provide valuable road safety training and employment.
"The main component that we are focusing on right now is our discussions with the Alberta Energy Regulator and that is to get a better understanding of the setback requirements as well as the use classification."Matthew Pawlowcounty manager planning services
