MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – The county’s municipal planning commission (MPC) has approved a development permit application for a new market facility in the Reed Ranch rural community that will help promote and support the special needs community.
The approval came on Oct. 6 during the commission’s regularly scheduled meeting, held in person and on Zoom.
The subject property is located about one kilometre north of Twp. Rd. 332, east of Rge. Rd. 284 in the Reed Ranch rural community east of Olds.
The applicant had requested consideration for a business, contractors - market, art studio, cafe and accessory building - barn on a 13.56-acre parcel zoned agricultural district. The project is valued at about $65,000 and includes a new 850 square foot-building as well as an existing 1,233 square foot-building.
“The applicants have submitted the business uses supplemental form as well as supplied additional information regarding this proposal,” administration reported in a briefing note to the commission.
“The intention of the contractors business is to raise awareness of autism and support the special needs community.”
In a letter to the commission, the applicants said, in part, that, “The studio part is an area where we will provide a space for special needs families to come and meet, be creative, learn new skills, such as cooking or crafts, and meet other families with something in common.
“The market will be a space where we will sell our goods grown, made or baked onsite, specializing in sugar-free. We also hope to provide space for other artisans; we’re particularly interested in showcasing special needs artists with art for sale.”
The commercial kitchen will be used for educational purposes to provide people with the opportunity to bake and package produce grown and made on site, members heard.
The application was circulated to eight adjacent landowners and no letters of objection were received.
The MPC is the county’s approving authority, made up of county councillors and appointed public members.
Permit for training facility OK’d
Meanwhile, the commission also approved a development permit for a new $450,000 private athletic training facility for multi-sport athletes in the Westerdale rural community in Division 4.
The property involved is located on the west side of Rge. Rd. 31 about two kilometres north of Twp. Rd. 320.
The permit is for business, contractor - private athletic training for multi-sport athletes within accessory building - shop. The facility will include a 13,000 square foot building.
The indoor athletic training facility will feature a full baseball infield, located on the northeast corner of the property.
“There will be a main entrance and a 20-foot by 20-foot indoor storage area, with the balance of the building dedicated to the indoor infield,” administration wrote in a briefing note to the commission. “Due to the proposed use and size of the building, administration will require a building permit to be obtained and the building to be constructed to meet the Safety Codes Act of Alberta requirements for commercial occupancy.”
Twelve adjacent landowners were circulated as part of the application, with one letter of concern received by the county. The landowner who submitted the letter voiced concerns about possible increased dust caused by increased traffic.
“Regarding the dust concerns, the applicant has advised that they anticipate most traffic to access the facility on Rge. Rd. 31 from the south via Twp. Rd. 320. The applicants also advised that most of their clientele prefer to use paved roads. The applicant pointed out that their peak time of business would be during the winter and spring months, when dust is naturally suppressed by snow and ice, and that their slowest time of business would be during the summer and fall months when dust tends to be more of an issue.”
The permit approval comes with a number of conditions, including a stipulation that the applicant will “maintain a non-intrusive business and preserve the privacy and enjoyment of adjacent properties.”
