Wheatland County council in brief

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Information from Wheatland County Council Regular Meeting – Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

Cannabis regulations updated

Council voted to amend the county’s land use bylaws to change some rules and definitions regarding cannabis production. The third reading of the bylaw passed 4-3, with Reeve Amber Link, Deputy Reeve Scott Klassen and Division 1 Councillor Jason Wilson voting in opposition.

Some of the restrictions regarding siting and operations were relaxed. Setback requirements were reduced from 500 metres (m) to 150 m for schools, daycares and other establishments involving childcare. Though the required setback of 100 m for dwellings remains unchanged, it is now measured from the boundary of the proposed development, rather than the property line, as previously.

The changes open up more of Wheatland County to non-retail cannabis businesses. Previously, cannabis production facilities could be sited only within the Highway 1 West Area (an industrial area located along the south side of Highway 1, west of Strathmore), but this restriction was removed. 

Established was a new land use – cannabis cultivation – meaning lands, buildings or structures for growing cannabis only (no onsite processing, packaging, testing, etc.). The land use bylaws now allow cultivation as a discretionary use in agricultural general and rural business districts, and as a permitted use in industrial general districts throughout the county.

The opposition to the changes partly related to how they would affect how issues associated proposed cultivation operations are addressed by council. While discretionary uses require a development permit, through which conditions can be added, the decision is appealable, said Wilson. “I think we should be mitigating the problems ahead of time, rather than at the (development permit) point,” he said.

Link agreed. “That’s my reservation as well – the fact that we could take into account potential nuisances at the (development permit) stage, but it is the appeal ability of it that is concerning for me,” she noted.

Muirfield skating rink deliberated 

Council moved first reading of a bylaw to amend the county’s land use bylaws to add a community recreation facility as a discretionary use in an area of Lakes of Muirfield, which would allow for the construction of a temporary outdoor skating rink.

Administration proposed a site on the east side of the development, adjacent to Range Road 264 and north of Muirfield Blvd. However, Klassen, who represents Division 5, including Lakes of Muirfield, expressed reservations about this location for the rink.

“I’m definitely not opposed to this at all – I know the community wants this – but (with) that frontage along (Range Road) 264, there has been some discussion about future development of that,” said Klassen. “I’d hate to hinder that by putting this there.” The proposed site also lacks parking, he added.

Administration also considered a site located west of The Mercantile at Muirfield, behind the community post boxes, but this area was deemed to potentially have drainage and water issues.

Second reading of the bylaw was deferred, which will occur after Klassen discusses siting with county staff and consults with residents. “We’ll get it figured out,” he said.

Proposal for new residences at Mountain View

Council moved first reading of a bylaw to establish a new direct control district to allow an increase in residential density at the Mountain View Hutterite Colony. The colony is proposing the construction of a new multi-unit dwelling. The proposed direct control district would limit the number of multi-unit dwellings (or townhouses) to five in the parcel.

Wilson voted in opposition, after citing unequal treatment of county residents. “We have a rule that if we have more than four parcels on a quarter section – which could (be) five parcels on a quarter section (with) two houses each, which is 10 houses (and) 10 families – they’re mandated to have servicing,” he said. “I just don’t know why we have that rule, but we allow communities of 200 residents to pop up, and we don’t make them tie into regional water and wastewater.”