MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The ongoing land use bylaw review project saw dozens of public comments, both verbal and written, received as part of public engagement part of the process.
A report on the review to date was presented during a recent, regularly-scheduled council meeting.
Three open houses were held as part of the engagement process – at the county office in November, the Bergen Community Hall in December and the Lonepine Community Hall in January.
Comments were also received by the county office until Feb. 5.
The review is looking at all sections of the bylaw, which govern land use throughout the municipality.
The review process was approved as part of the 2023 work program for the planning and development department.
Administration presented a summary of verbal responses received during the engagement process, as well as the written responses received at the open houses and through submission directly to the county.
Verbal comments were received regarding shipping containers, recreation vehicles - temporary accommodations, riding arenas, short-term rentals, confined feeding operations, agricultural parcels, residential parcels, offences and fines, and other topics.
A summary of written comments was presented as part of the update report.
For example, regarding business, agri-tourism and riding arenas, public section, the comments included: “Feedback was received requesting clarification on the description of unserviced, overnight, self-contained accommodation. Other feedback was received in support of the amendment and commented that we must not be overly restrictive on businesses and allow businesses to accommodate RVs when hosting events.
“Concerns brought forward regarding this amendment (included) allowing campgrounds with hookups, traffic, security and noise, environmental impacts and no rezoning requirement for public participation.”
Councillors passed a motion instructing administration to add “no storage of RV units” to that section.
Through a motion, council instructed administration to bring back provisions for a “prohibition of importation of soils, clays, construction waste and without limiting the forgoing from any material from inside or outside of the county other than to a waste facility.”
The agriculture services board and the municipal planning commission have both been presented with the proposed bylaw amendments and have not provided any comments, council heard.
First reading for the updated land use bylaw has been scheduled for March 13 and the public hearing is scheduled for April 10.
“We still have lots of information that we are going to gather from the public hearing and we can still make changes all the way up to third reading,” said reeve Angela Aalbers.
