MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county's municipal planning commission (MPC) has approved a development permit for a proposed tree-clearing, clear-cutting project totalling 11.4 hectares (ha) in the Water Valley/Winchell Lake area.
The move came by way of motion at the commission’s recent regularly scheduled council meeting, which took place by Zoom.
The parcel involved is located one mile north of Twp. 290 on the east side of Rge. Rd. 55, at SW 8-29-5-5.
The owner is Bradley Van Maarion and the applicant is Coleman Forest Products Ltd. The application submitted included a timber harvest plan dated Feb. 12.
“The report specified that there are three tree-clearing/clear-cutting harvest units,” administration said in a briefing note to the commission. “One in the northerly portion of the quarter, consisting of 6.7 ha, and two in the southerly portion of the quarter, consisting of 2.9 ha and 1.8 ha, and located to the south of the exiting subdivision surrounding the existing gravel pit leading to the east property line.
“The remainder of the tree harvest area is identified as selective harvest unit 2, with a total area of 17 ha that is part of the development permit issued as a permitted use and is not part of the development permit application.”
To reduce impact on the soil, the applicant has stated the harvesting will take place under dry or frozen conditions between Feb. 1 and April 30 of a given year, members heard.
“Access to the subject property from Rge. Rd. 290 is by way of a private road not within county road allowances, and the logging equipment and timber haul will utilize an existing private all-weather road access within the quarter section that services the existing gravel pit in the southwest corner, entering and exiting from the southwest corner.”
Members heard that any remaining debris will be piled and burned on designated areas on the site.
“Burning of the piles will follow requirements of the county and will be the responsibility of the landowner to obtain appropriate permits. Timber haul is scheduled this winter operating season.”
The approval comes with a number of conditions, including that the hours of logging operations shall be restricted from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with no operations on Sundays or statutory holidays.
The MPC is the county approving authority, made up of county councillors and appointed public members.
