Mountain View County council has approved several amendments to the public events bylaw, including regarding community consultation.
The move came during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
“The governance review committee reviewed the public events bylaw and has recommended changes to clarify the definition of public place and to address mandatory public consultation requirements amongst other minor additions and amendments,” said Chris Atchison, director of legislative services.
One change relates to the definition for public place. The updated section reads: “Public place means any place to which the public has access as a right or by invitation, express or implied, and without restricting the foregoing to constitute a public place it is not necessary that all segments of the public have a right of access thereto and includes privately owned lands.”
The public event permit exception section now reads: “The following organizations, clubs, groups or societies may not require a public event permit to hold a public event unless, in the opinion of approving authority, the nature and scale of the event is such that a permit is required.”
An addition to the permit requirements section reads: “The applicant shall be required to undertake community consultation within one mile of the subject property where the event is being held. Confirmation of adjacent landowner consultation shall be submitted with the public event application form.”
Another addition states: “Dust control may be required in front of residences at the sole expense of the applicant along roads impacted with the event.”
Councillors gave first and second reading to the amending bylaw last month.
Road allowance changes approved
Meanwhile, council has approved a number of amendments to the undeveloped road allowance policy and procedure.
The move came also during the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The amendments came following a recent governance review committee meeting where the changes were recommended.
The undeveloped road allowance licenses policy has been amended to included the following: “Mountain View County supports restricting access to an undeveloped road allowance in instances that would minimize legal activity, minimize environmental impact or eliminate a nuisance at the discretion of the chief administrative officer.”
The undeveloped road allowance licences procedure has been amended to include the following: “Licences for use of the road allowance will only be granted for agricultural purposes or in instances that would minimize illegal activity, minimize environmental impacts or eliminate a nuisance.
“A request (to restrict access) must be made in writing to the CAO identifying the necessary for restricting access and include written consent from all affected adjacent landowners. The CAO shall have final authority as to the decision to restrict access to the undeveloped road allowance.
“The county shall maintain the final authority to revoke any approvals at anytime, including the removal of any locks or barricades without notice to the landowner.”
