County council goes to bat for local businessman

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Wheatland County councillors stepped up to the plate on Oct. 4, when Gleichen contractor Holt Construction was facing a refusal on his proposed business development permit.
“Council referred this back to staff, seeking further determination as to how the hamlet industrial was the most appropriate designation for this application,” said Colton Nickel, Wheatland County planner.
Holt wanted to open a contractor/woodworking shop on a .3 acre lot situated on the corner of Main Street and Prouse in Gleichen. The property was previously owned by the county and was used as senior’s drop-in centre, but was sitting vacant prior to the county selling the property to Holt.
Zoning for the lots are designated as hamlet industrial. A first reading and public hearing were held and staff had several meetings with the owner to see if the business fit within the Municipal Development Plan and land use designations. Staff found it did not comply under hamlet industrial guidelines for businesses situated near a residential area, was a smaller property size than permitted for an industrial development and was not currently permitted in any other hamlet in the county. They recommended the permit not be approved. One letter of objection from an adjacent neighbour was received.
“We sold the land to the owner knowing what his full intention was for the property,” said Coun. Ben Armstrong. “In my gut, I think refusal is unfair.”
Nickel said staff decided it might fit under a catch-all definition of contractor service that was suggested by Coun. Brenda Knight. He recommended if the council accepted the application under the contractor service designation that they add conditions to protect residents and ensure environmental and noise impacts were limited.
“Staff understands the proposed use of the parcel will be small in scale and less intensive than other industrial within the county,” said Nickel.
Council gave approval for the business’s go ahead, on both second and third readings of the bylaw.