County discusses land use redesignation bylaw

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Wheatland County council has begun discussions regarding Bylaw 2024-06, being a bylaw to redesignate a 32-hectare portion of land from Agriculture General District to Natural Resource Extraction and Processing District. 

A public hearing discussing the potential redesignation was held in council chambers during the Oct. 15 regular meeting. 

The purpose of the land use redesignation would be to allow for the future development of an aggregate extraction and processing operation. 

Presented in council’s public meeting agenda, it was noted the projected lifespan of the project at the site is approximately 40 years, and the operational features would include excavation, crushing, screening, hauling, and reclamation. There are three similar aggregate extraction operations indicated to be within five kilometers of the proposed site. 

Currently, the lands are used for agricultural production, primarily as hay land, as well as for occasional livestock grazing. 

With the exception of three grain bins on the northern property boundary, the site is not currently developed. 

The remaining approximate 32.7 hectares of the site not indicated for excavation would continue to be utilized for agricultural purposes, as well as the preservation of existing wetlands. 

The project proposal suggested the excavation would occur in three phases and would be progressively reclaimed. Dry excavations would exclusively make up the project operations, with no groundwater disturbance or wet excavations to occur at any time. 

Pending approval of the land use redesignation, a development permit will also have to be issued prior to operations at the site being allowed as proposed in the project report. 

During the public hearing, support for the project was presented by the applicant, and was met with concerns both by adjacent landowners, as well as by members of council. 

Coun. Koester expressed concerns that adjacent landowners, though they did receive correspondence regarding the proposed project, were not given so in a timely manner prior to the start of the Oct. 15 public hearing. 

Concerns from adjacent landowners largely consisted of considerations for dust and silica. A letter from a neighbouring landowner indicated airborne dust and silica would not only be disruptive to their greenhouse business operations, but would also be hazardous to the health of the residents. 

In order to mitigate dust and silica, dust suppression was indicated to be of planned use via a water and calcium mixture which would be applied to the project site during operations. 

Dust control may also be written into a development permit agreement with the county at a later date prior to project approval.

Council passed second reading of the land use redesignation, however permission to hold third reading during the Oct. 15 regular meeting was not granted. The bylaw will return before council at a later date.