MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The public hearing for the proposed updated Eagle Valley area structure plan (ASP) has been held by Mountain View County, marking a key milestone in a project underway since 2016.
The hearing was held during the Sept. 8 council meeting as part of the ASP process. ASPs are used to provide guidance for council when making decisions on development proposals for specific parcels of land in the plan area.
The Eagle Valley ASP area is located in the northwest portion of Mountain View County northeast of Sundre, and includes portions of 76 quarter sections east of the Red Deer River. The total area of the plan is 10,805 acres, bounded on the north by the river and on the south by Twp. Rd. 334, and on the western side by the river and on the eastern side by Rge. Rd. 43.
Purposes of the updated plan include reducing land use conflicts by ensuring new development is compatible with existing development and the environment, to support and protect existing agricultural operations and the right to farm as stated in the county’s land use bylaw.
As well, it is to protect limited groundwater resources and ensure sufficient potable water and safe wastewater disposal for all existing and future land uses, prioritize land conservation measures by allowing limited residential development, and provide landowners with the plan area and potential developers with information on the amount and type of development that may be permitted in the plan area.
Key changes being proposed with the updated plan include the following:
• Three policy areas have been identified with the plan area: low density area; environmental area overlay; and the Red Deer River corridor area.
• The plan may only support ‘first parcel out’ subdivisions with maximum of two titles per quarter section subject to redesignation/subdivision approval as an agricultural parcel or small residential parcel (two-three acres). However proposed subdivisions within the Red Deer River corridor area are strongly discouraged.
• Additional policies for environmentally significant/sensitive areas.
• Confined feeding operations, gravel pits and new recreational land use changes are not supported.
• Additional policies surrounding roads, utilities, water, wastewater, and stormwater are being updated.
The plan is being updated under the direction of council and is being overseen by a steering committee chaired by county resident Jim Smith.
During the public hearing, Smith told council the committee heard from many area residents, with the process including open houses and resident surveys.
“The Eagle Valley steering committee and the development department support the approval for the Eagle Valley area structure plan as it complies with the municipal development plan and there were no objections or concerns during the circulation and public hearing notification process,” said Smith.
Councillors deferred second reading on bylaw No. 23/21 and instructed administration to bring back more information on a number of things, including clarification on confined feeding operation thresholds and clarification on gravel and aggregate extraction.
The complete proposed updated ASP is available for viewing on the county’s website.
The bylaw will be back before council on Sept. 29 for possible second reading.
All councillors were present at the Sept. 8 council meeting.
