Planning and development enforcement

By Sharon McLeay Times Contributor

A policy to clearly outline how complaints and investigations for planning and development issues and infractions are conducted was approved at the Nov. 6 Wheatland County council meeting.
“The reason we are putting this together for council is to clarify procedures for enforcement of infractions against the land use bylaw, approved land development permits and approved subdivision approvals,” said Kim Sandbeck, Wheatland County planning officer.
The planning department has also developed a communication booklet to provide information on the processes and guidelines surrounding re-designation, subdivisions and appeal processes.

Safety codes fee increase
Fees are going up for building permit safety inspections in Wheatland County. This is the first increase in fees since 2014.
“Most fee increases are 10 cents a square foot and $10 per fixtures, (and) minimum fees have increased for building permits,” said Cindy Ramsay, Wheatland County safety codes technician. “The fee is minimal and fair with today’s economic conditions.”
The fee increases bring Wheatland County in line with other municipalities. Wheatland County contracts out inspection services to Superior Safety Codes. The contracts are accepted under the request for proposal process.

Transparency initiative
Wheatland County councillors have been approached about having more council meetings recorded and available on the website. The request was put forward by Deputy Reeve Glenn Koester. He asked to have the organizational meeting available to the public, and council also agreed the Committee of the Whole meetings will be posted on the website.

Fire bylaw update
Wheatland County Reeve Amber Link said issues with the fire bylaw have been worked out, and the revised changes will be vetted by lawyers and then sent to the associations and fire departments for their information.
Deputy Reeve Glenn Koester asked whether the associations and fire departments could sign off to the changes, prior to council’s decision for second reading. Councillor Scott Klassen said he liked the idea of them initialling agreement on the changes. Councillor Ben Armstrong felt council had already done due diligence and it should move forward now that discussion and changes have been made.
Link said changes were made live and there was consensus on the changes around the table by the fire association representatives.
“They fully understood that it was a collaborative process, we were simply consulting them on some of the changes,” said Link. “Some of their issues were very legitimate and helped us craft a better bylaw. This is just one more step in the process. Obviously, the final step in the process is it is coming back to council.”
The fire bylaw is coming back to council for second reading this month (November).

Land use matters
Land use bylaw 2016-01 got some tweaks on Nov. 6, when Wheatland County council approved third reading amendments, updating it to Bylaw 2018-21. The amendment moved many of the permitted uses to discretionary uses in the agricultural general district, rural business district, parks and recreation districts, community services and public utilities district.
“This will allow the MPC (Municipal Planning Commission) more oversight, transparency and accountability for development permits,” said Kim Sandbeck, Wheatland County planning officer. “We are basically moving the majority of farm-related uses into discretionary.”
Agriculture building/structures, agricultural operations and agricultural processing remained under permitted uses for agriculture general district and rural business designations.
Notifications will still be circulated in newspapers, to adjacent landowners, agencies and internal departments, before recommendations are presented to the MPC.
Accessory building/structures remained in permitted uses for parks and recreation, community services and public utility designations. There were some additions in those three designations to include things such as signs, solar panels, stripping and grading.

Midwest Hutterite Colony asks for cemetery
The Midwest Hutterite Colony near Rosebud is doing some life planning, by asking for approval for cemetery land for the colony.
Cemetery lands come under the community services designation and as such have different zoning criteria. The cemetery was not considered when approving the direct control designation for the bulk of the property submitted by the applicant. The property targeted for the cemetery is currently designated as agricultural land.
The cemetery would be strictly for the colony’s use and not for the general public. Planners said while it does not fit the Municipal Development Plan (MDP) definitions for community service, in that use is not for all the general public, it fits county intent regarding colonies, and the designation would be the most appropriate assignment.
“The fact that they contain all of their institutional functions, agricultural functions and residential functions within their quarter section, staff is recommending approval for this regardless of the MDP, as it does promote the continued and existing use of the colony in the county,” said Odessa Cohen, junior planner with the county. She said the colony consulted with Alberta Transportation to approve roadways and access to the cemetery.
Councillor Jason Wilson asked if average landowners could have a cemetery on their land. Cohen responded due to regulations, she did not think it would be possible.
Cohen clarified her rationale for recommending the Midwest Hutterite Colony cemetery. She indicated that colony farm units are a contained cultural unit and modification of the MDP fits in the county’s desire for inclusion of cultural differences within the county. She recommended approval as it would support quality of life for the colony residents. The public hearing will be held on Dec. 18 in council chambers.

Six-month subdivision extension granted
Homesteads of Lyalta developers asked for another extension to May 2019, in order to complete conditions of their development permit.
“I have thought a lot about it and as much as residential developments cost, we do need a resident base in order to have better industrial,” said Wheatland County Councillor Jason Wilson. “We have to have places for people to live and work. I believe we can’t have one or the other. A year is more than enough time to get done what needs to be done. I think six months is enough time.”
The one-year extension was voted down and council approved a six-month extension, with Councillor Ben Armstrong opposed.
The Corner Junction route 24 subdivision, for four condo units, a truck stop and RV storage site, was also given a six-month extension.