MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - County council has instructed administration to proceed with preparing public participation materials regarding proposed changes to the land use bylaw, including regarding tax assessment for horticulture uses, secondary suites and bunkhouses.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The review of the land use bylaw is being done to ensure alignment with statutory plans policies and identify items requiring review.
“The recommended changes to the bylaw are intended to provide clarification and clear interpretation when applicants apply and administration reviews applications,” Margaretha Bloem, director of planning, said in a briefing note to council.
Regarding horticultural uses, the note states: “The assessment and taxability of a farm building is based on the extent they are used for farming operations, which includes horticulture.
“Assessing a greenhouse when used for growing would be considered an exempt farm building. As sales area and the selling of other products; or value-added processing would fall outside the definition of farming operations and become assessable/taxable to the extent that area used.”
Regarding secondary suites, the note states, in part, that: “Administration suggests that the ability to apply for a secondary suite be limited to parcels above 70 acres, as this will align with the provision to allow for two detached dwelling units.”
Regarding bunkhouses, the note states, in part, that, “Administration suggests adding the use within the agricultural (2) district as a discretionary use, update the wording of the definition but also add additional wording the definition to ensure that use is only considered when there is an existing agricultural operation or horticultural use on site, regardless of the size of the parcel.”
Regarding dugouts, the note states, in part, that, “Administration is not recommending the inclusion of dugouts as a discretionary use with the county residential districts. Council is requested to provide further direction related to dugouts within residential districts of the land use bylaw.”
