Request to waive fees approved

Times Reporter     

 

Both the Strathmore and District Agricultural Society and Strathmore High School (SHS) asked council if they would waive the development permit fee for the temporary signs lining the fence. 

Betty Ann Fountain, development officer for the town, gave a little history on the signs, which are advertising for local businesses.  In January 2013 applications were received from both the Ag. Society and SHS requesting that the development permit fee for temporary signs be removed.  The land is zoned P1, public service district, and under the land use bylaw, temporary signs are considered discretionary, which means they require an approved development permit and a fee of $75 per sign. The signs would then be allowed for a maximum of one year, and the matter must be brought back each year for approval.

Fountain said in the last few weeks she had received new applications and requests to waive the fees. For the Ag. Society’s 46 signs they would be required to pay $3,450, and the 25 signs at SHS would cost them $1,875. 

Fountain said that planning and development was requesting that the fee be waived. Councillor Pat Fule stated that the funds received by SHS for the signs is used to help lower registration fees, and other fees such as busing, for their sports teams. Councillor Brad Walls said the revenue generated by the Ag. Society’s signs is used to help offset some of the costs for user groups, like the Air Cadets, who use the grounds and/or some of its buildings free of cost. 

Councillor Bob Sobol’s only concern is the aesthetics. He wants to make sure the signs continue to look new-ish, no damage or graffiti, which Fountain said is included in an agreement with the two groups. The only cost to the town for waiving the fee is the time of the development officer with the applications.

Council unanimously approved the motion to waive the fees.

 

Mailbox garbage

Councillor Denise Peterson told council she has received calls from concerned residents about the litter and mess being left around mailboxes – flyers being left to blow around, and dog feces. Peterson said it is causing concern and distress to the residents. She also said after having researched it she found that it’s a common problem in other communities, and in some of them there are people contracted to do the work. 

Councillor Bob Sobol said walking by the mailboxes on Thomas Drive it seems like every person leaves their mail behind. He agrees some action needs to be taken to alleviate the situation, and he knows garbage cans won’t eliminate the problem, but it would be a good place to start.  

“We have to do something, we’re talking about a lot of paper,” said Sobol

Canada Post has stated that in severe cases where customers are discarding a variety of items at or around a site there is a letter that can be sent requesting that people respect their neighbours and their community by disposing of unwanted mail at home.  

“I think that’s a very good place to start, I think it is a very good place to start and just talking about being good neighbours, just bringing that awareness, maybe putting a little notification in our utility bills as well, would just encourage people to be just a little more mindful,” said Peterson.  

Potential solutions will be looked into and brought back to council.

 

Development agreement 

The standard long form development agreement was brought to council for approval at the April 2 meeting. 

“It’s the standards that the town wants to have in place if a developer wants to come in to undertake a new subdivision, install municipal infrastructure and expand it into their subdivision area,” said Harry Salm, safety codes officer and building/development officer for the town. 

“So as they’re impacting our infrastructure, there’s certain things we want in place to ensure that the town is protected, that the infrastructure is done correctly, and that there is a process that is in place for this.” 

Council approved the suggested changes to the agreement. 

 

Land use re-designation 

The proposed re-designation for a section of downtown north was brought back to council on the April 2 meeting.  The file had been brought forward previously to see the land zoned from R1 to an R3 district. Residents in the area were concerned about the designation and wanted to see it changed to R2X, which would put some satisfactory restrictions on the development in terms of height and other factors. 

Council approved the request to change the designation to R2X.