MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - The county’s muncipal planning commission (MPC) has approved development permits for two selective logging projects on the same property in the Water Valley/Winchell Lake rural neighbourhood.
The approvals came by way of motions at the commission’s June 17 regularly scheduled meeting.
One permit is for selective logging on an 18.1 hectare (ha) parcel about one kilometre south of Twp. Rd. 292 on the east side of Rge. Rd. 53, at SW 10-29-5-5.
The owner is Douglas and Dedra Myers and the applicant is CCI Inc. c/o Malte Weller.
Selective logging is the cutting, storage, sorting and grading of primary first materials for commercial use of the logs or fibre and includes associated reforestation and reclamation activities.
The subject parcel consists a developed yard site in the northerly portion, undeveloped agricultural lands within the northern portion and the remaining are heavily treed areas in the southwesterly portion bisected by the Stoney Creek and tributaries, members heard.
A second permit was approved for a selective logging project on a 10.1 ha parcel on the same property.
The owner is Chad and Brittany Topilko and the applicant is CCI Inc., c/o Malte Weller.
The submitted harvest plan for both permits states immature trees and regenerating trees in the understory will be retained as much as operationally possible for continuous forest management, and the goal for natural reforestation is 50 - 80 per cent conifer with aspen mixed wood.
The haul route for both permits will be from the approach north on Rge. Rd. 523 to Twp. Rd. 292, then to the Neilson FP Mill located within SE 17-29-5-5.
To reduce the impact on soil, the applicant has stated that the harvesting will take place under dry or frozen conditions from now until April 30, 2022, members heard.
Among the conditions of the approval is that the applicant or operator provide an irrevocable letter of guarantee-credit in the sum of $10,000 as security. As the projects are on the same property, only one letter of guarantee-credit will be needed, members heard.
The commission unanimously approved both permits.
The MPC is the county’s approving authority, made up of county councillors and appointed members of the public. Public member Gerald Ingeveld chaired the June 17 commission meeting.
