Council approved the consolidation of 420 acres as Direct Control District north of Innisfail to facilitate a biofuel complex. The request to create a 15.12-acre agricultural parcel to the northwest of the DCD land was also approved.The parcels are located in an area of mixed agricultural, industrial and residential parcels, and last month council deferred the decision, asking more questions about the intended use of the land.Councillors wanted to know why an agricultural parcel would exist so close to the site and what setbacks were in place to protect surrounding residents from noise and traffic.A report presented Tuesday explained the agricultural parcel is meant to allow landowners to keep their current dwelling. When the five parcels of DCD land were redesignated in 2007, the smaller parcel retained its agricultural zoning.The complex will have to be set back 1.6 kilometres with the front yard 30 metres from the highway, the rear yard 7.5 metres and the side 6 metres.New reservoir on its wayA $2.3-million construction project is set to begin in Benalto next spring.Council awarded the tender for a new water reservoir to Timcon Construction, slightly over identified costs in the 2011 capital budget. Cost estimates were determined by market values of materials and supplies at the time at $2.26 million. The reservoir will be placed on .45 acres of land between the current development and Kountry Meadows and will include a 1,800 cubic metre tank, up from the current 300 cubic metre tank.The current reservoir has been deemed insufficient for current and future populations. The new one will meet current demands and fire flow volumes.Council agrees to feasibility studyCouncil agreed to participate in an application for a regional collaboration grant for the costs of a regional water feasibility study as a member of the Sylvan Lake Regional Water Commission.The study will identify potential for water sources ñ either surface or ground water ñ and their potential use for future development. The commission and Alberta Environment will use the study. Members of the commission include reps from the Town of Sylvan Lake, Lacombe County, Red Deer County and five summer villages adjacent to Sylvan Lake (Birchcliff, Norglenwold, Jarvis Bay, Sunbreaker Cove and Half Moon Bay).The cost for the study will range somewhere between $20,000 to $80,000 and council has agreed to pay 25 per cent of the fee.Lacombe County is securing funding by applying for a regional collaboration grant.10-year road study approvedCouncil approved a rural road study, mapping roads that will need attention and improvements over the next 10 years last week.ìI'm glad we went to this 10-year road plan,î said Div. 4 Coun. David Hoar. ìWe're applying some science. It's not, ëOh my uncle lives here, we should work on it',î he said.Tagish Engineering Ltd. was hired in 2010 to conduct a gravel road inventory and assessment, an update from the original study that took place in 2001.The report, meant as a work in progress, will be reviewed annually to make sure information is kept current.The report is meant as one of the resources used in establishing the county's annual and five-year road upgrading capital program. Provincial and federal funding, developer contribution and traffic patterns are other factors taken into consideration.
