MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - A dog rescue society operating out of Cremona is appealing a development permit issued last month for a commercial dog breeding facility in the adjacent municipality of Mountain View County.
Amanda Thomson filed the appeal by the July 28 deadline on behalf of BARCS Rescue, confirmed Christofer Atchison, secretary of Mountain View County’s Subdivision & Development Appeal Board, who is also the county's director of legislative, community and agricultural services.
Thomson is listed as a fundraising and events coordinator with BARCS Rescue.
In May, Joy Unleashed Ltd. applied to the county for discretionary use approval to develop an $850,000 commercial kennel with attached residence on 22.59 acres of agricultural-zoned land in the Dogpound area of the county.
Information about the proposed development was circulated to 16 adjacent landowners in early June. No objections were received by the county.
The county’s municipal planning commission considered the application on July 7. Administrative staff recommended approval with conditions. The commission approved the permit that day, along with the conditions. Affected persons had until July 28 at 4 p.m. to appeal the decision.
When apprised of the development approval last week, BARCS Rescue noted its opposition publicly, promoted a change.org website post encouraging people to add their name in opposition, directed feedback to Mountain View County and solicited donations to cover the $450 fee to appeal the decision.
Atchison said there was interest in the file from across the province. So much so, that the county issued an information update on July 29 once the appeal period had closed.
In the update, it was noted Mountain View County’s Subdivision and Development Appeal Board will hold an appeal hearing in the next 30 days where the board will be granted an opportunity to review the file and ultimately render a decision on whether the permit will be granted or not.
“County elected officials and administration appreciate the level of interest in this file but out of procedural fairness for all parties, and to ensure that the hearing receives the upmost level of neutrality possible, Mountain View County will be unable to comment on the development except for any clarification on procedural or appeal hearing matters,” the update stated.
It directed any person affected by the development to provide a submission for the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board’s review in person at the Mountain View County’s office or via email at [email protected].
“Individuals wanting comments to be reviewed by the board, please note that under Section 33 (c) of the Alberta Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the submission it its entirety, including any submitted personal information will be included in a public agenda package," the update stated.
Atchison noted that a hearing date and submission deadline would be set in the next couple of days.
