MPC passes several development and subdivision applications

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) has approved three development permit applications, as well as a subdivision application, as of the Oct. 10 meeting.

Development Permit (DP) 2023-111 was indicated to be for a medium industrial use, modular home manufacturing company.

Following circulation to adjacent landowners regarding the development permit application, no responses were received by the MPC.

The application was also circulated to Alberta Transportation, as the original roadside development permit had expired. The applicant is required to acquire a new roadside development permit in order to proceed with development.

Though the application was also circulated to Rocky View County, no response or concerns were expressed regarding it. 

The facility will manufacture modular homes. Pre-manufactured aspects of the home will arrive and will be assembled at the facility. Cladding on the exterior and finishing on the interior will be completed on site. Home sections will then be staged and shipped off site for installation at the residential destination.

A development permit was issued in 2022 for the construction of a 45,000 square foot industrial building with multiple bays at the site, which is currently under development. 

The proposed modular home facility will occupy five of the nine bays present within the industrial building.

The application was approved unanimously by the MPC following brief discussion and clarification from administration regarding the development of the site. 

DP 2023-123 was also indicated for medium industrial use, detailing a construction yard for the fabrication of electrical buildings. 

No responses were received following circulation to adjacent landowners regarding the development permit application.

The application was also circulated to Alberta Transportation, which has already issued a roadside development permit.

The applicant, though not explicitly named during the MPC meeting, was described as an electrical construction company specializing in fabricating electrical buildings for customers within the oil and gas, power generation, and mining industries.

Due to the size of the buildings, they are fabricated outside, and the yard will be used to store materials and equipment throughout the fabrication process.

The application was approved by the MPC unanimously. 

DP 2023-137 was presented before the MPC to address three non-compliant structures on an indicated property which required variances.

The application was circulated internally, as well as to adjacent surrounding properties, with no responses submitted to the MPC. 

No concerns were expressed by local fire services, as the application was also distributed to that authority.

The structures in question were noted to have elements which are too close to their respective property lines and are not in compliance with the current land use bylaws.

No development is currently established on any of the adjacent lots to the applicant property, and there will be none until the lots are serviced, as per the Eagle Lake area structure plan.

Administrative staff recommended the MPC approve the application noting the three structures defined as accessory buildings on the property, with conditions noted in the meeting agenda.

As the application was approved, the buildings were stamped compliant. When future properties are developed, the property owner who is currently occupant will not be able to complain if neighbouring developments come too close to the property line.

The application was passed by the MPC unanimously.

Subdivision Application 2023-020 brought to the MPC requesting to subdivide a plus or minus 3.38 hectare portion of land from the southwest quarter section 14 Township 25 Range 21 West of the fourth meridian.

The subject lands are located approximately 9.3 km Northeast of the Village of Standard, adjacent to Township Road 252 and Range Road 212. The purpose of the proposal being to facilitate continued residential and agricultural uses on the land.

The application proposed to subdivide a plus or minus 3.38 hectare parcel from a previously unsubdivided quarter section, creating a plus or minus 60.62 hectare remainder.

County Administration noted the proposal was consistent with the South Saskatchewan regional plan, the regional growth management strategy, the municipal development plan and the land use bylaw.

The proposal was passed by the MPC unanimously, and without debate.