Industrialization in Ardenode
Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor
Several homeowners in the Ardenode area wonder if the area is targeted as an industrial hub in Wheatland County.
Several pieces of agricultural property in the Ardenode area have been re-designated as industrial sites, and currently owners of a 54.75 acre parcel bordering the Serviceberry creek and the hamlet of Ardenode have requested a re-designation to expand their Wheatland Blasting business.
Staff initially had some environmental concerns because of location close to the creek, which were later resolved with a completion of an environment study. There were two letters of objection by adjacent landowners.
“I strenuously oppose this application to convert agricultural and residential property to industrial use,” said F.J. Bazant. “This is a residential and agricultural community and industrial development is not compatible with this type of property. We are already bothered in our home by noise pollution from a nearby industrial business, as well as the related industrial traffic. To increase this activity, it will aggravate the encroachment of industrial activity into a residential community.
“I believe the county has a duty to protect homeowners in this community from increasing industrial development. Is there an area structure plan for this area? If so, this should prevent this and further industrial applications in this area, as once approved it cannot be annulled.”
Concerns outlined in the second letter were the about the effects to property values, high traffic volumes, road damage, safety issues and disturbance of natural habitat and species.
Wheatland Blasting is looking to expand its business and has been in place for 15 years. Staff said this is a way to accommodate growth for the area business owners. Council passed second and third reading.
Obsolete and spent ASP
Several Wheatland County Area Structure Plans (ASP) have been repealed, considered obsolete and spent, in order to comply to the province’s directive to align with the Southern Saskatchewan Regional Plans, through the Municipal Government Plan and anticipating the new regional growth plan for the Calgary region.
Councillor Alice Booth questioned the wisdom in taking away the re-appealed Area Structure Plans (ASP), given all the work previously done on them and that potential development may not be allowed in those areas in the future.
“If you cancel all the ASP’s, how do you resurrect it later?” questioned Booth.
“The amount of work to update these … to make them even slightly feasible would be the equivalent of a whole new area structure plan. In my professional opinion, you would almost prefer to have a new area structure plan to move forward. Ninety-nine per cent of these plans may be irrelevant with the future plan and the master plans for development. In terms of the amendments and work required, they would have to have a whole new ASP to fit into the requirements of the plan,” responded Colton Nickel, Intermediate Planner for Wheatland County.
Wheatland County takes care of fencing
The fencing contract for Wheatland County for 2017-2019 was awarded to Denico Ltd.
“Denico has performed very well over the 20 years and the Transportation and Infrastructure department recommends that the County award the contract for the next three years with an additional two, one-year optional extensions,” said the spokesman for the Transportation and Infrastructure department. Five other companies put in a bid, but Denico came in with the lowest unit cost per mile and highest rating on evaluation criteria. Staff anticipates that fencing costs may increase up to 15 per cent in the future, as materials and labour costs rise.
There was a question from the public that indicated the winning contractor had foreknowledge of securing the contract two weeks before the bid was settled.
Two council members said the information was serious enough to investigate that no process infractions were apparent and the winning bid was executed appropriately. Councillor Rex Harwood suggested that evaluation sheets should be posted online to ensure transparency.
Council remuneration
Every two years a group of ratepayers get the chance to review Wheatland County council member’s remuneration package and recommend any changes to the policy. Changes to the policy for 2017 included per diem rate increase at less than five dollars per meeting. Honorariums for events other than approved council or committee activity go up about $40 per event. Timesheets must be submitted to the CAO by the first Tuesday of the following month with reciepts attached for reimbursements. A written request must be made for a spouse to attend conferences and conventions with a breakdown of costs to the county. Approval for spousal attendance will be made in council as a request for decision.
Village Centre and Senior’s facility for Lakes of Muirfield
First reading Bylaw 2017-03 suggests a revised use for land in the Lakes of Muirfield, to develop a potential commercial complex that might include a café, restaurants, fitness centre, convenience store, liquor store or community centre. The bylaw specs are attached to the Feb. 21 agenda attachments.
The second part of the bylaw proposes senior’s independent living facility.
“We have no proposal or permit in front of us at this point. To this, we have put our first foot forward. If council moves forward with first reading, we will circulate to everyone in Muirfield and everyone within a half mile radius and go forward with a public hearing on that,” said Gerry Melenka, Manager of Planning and Development for Wheatland County.