County MPC approves two development permit applications

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Wheatland County Municipal Planning Commission approved two development permit applications during the Nov. 14 meeting.

Development Permit application DP2023-153, which was brought before the Municipal Planning Commission first, proposed the relocation of an existing temporary golf clubhouse within the community of Speargrass. 

The application proposed to move the golf clubhouse from its current location, to a position roughly 34 meters east of the first hole tee off.

According to information provided to the Municipal Planning Commission through the application, the move is required in order to facilitate the construction of a new permanent clubhouse in place of the old temporary structure.

The proposed new temporary location meets the setback requirements established by the Speargrass Special Medium Density Residential land use district, and it was noted that no changes to current access and parking were proposed.

Through their application, the applicant is anticipating the temporary structure will be in use for two years, and will then be sold once the permanent structure is completed.

County administration had recommended the development permit application be approved, in accordance with the land use bylaw and without variances being granted. 

The development permit application was approved by the municipal planning commission board following administration’s presentation without further discussion.

Development Permit DP 2023-158 was next on the agenda, being a proposal for a home-based business to import and sell Japanese domestic motor vehicles. 

The application proposed to import right-hand-drive trucks to Alberta to sell to customers such as farmers, hunters, acreage owners, municipalities, golf courses, or feedlots. 

Once in province, the trucks can be certified by the Province of Alberta for road use, or may be utilized for off-road travel only. 

Following the approval of the development permit application, the applicant had stated they will obtain a dealer license from the Alberta Motor Vehicle Industry Council.

Once ordered, vehicles were noted to take approximately four months to arrive in Calgary, prior to being transported individually to the applicant’s property.

Trucks will be pre-sold prior to being ordered and delivered to Alberta, and a maximum of four trucks will be on the applicant’s property at any one given time. 

The majority of orders will be delivered directly from the applicant dealership to the customers, with some being picked up if the customers are local.

The development permit application noted there will be no associated noise, odor or nuisances with the business. 

The Municipal Planning Commission approved the application following administration’s presentation with no further discussion.