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A Free Weekly Publication Serving All of Beaver County Wednesday,February June 22,16 2022, Volume 15,15 Issue 25 7 Wednesday 2022 Volume Issue
Council goes through land use draft proposal - new bylaw and MDP will go to public sessions for review Patricia Harcourt Beaver County Council went through a draft Land Use Bylaw (LUB) and Municipal Development Plan (MDP) with a fine tooth comb June 15 in preparation for public sessions to be held in future. It was a targeted review of the major amendments within the documents. They were lead through the drafts by the county’s development officer Kim Vana and General Manager for Community Services Aimee Boese. Once they were completed, Vana said: “We will look at all the comments,” and also discuss them with consultant V3 Companies of Canada. “We want to make sure you’re comfortable with this process before taking (the draft LUB) to public sessions,” said Vana, noting the draft MDP had been discussed earlier. “The comments are all that’s required for today,” added Boese. The LUB/MDP documents were passed in 1998 and require updating, despite the fact some amendments have been made over the years. The report to council stated that updates are necessary to reflect changes in the community, development demands, more modernized regulations, and a need to “minimize red tape.” V3 Consultants of Canada was hired as the consultant in this process, and they came to council’s May 25 meeting to review the amendments and clarify issues. “During the presentation the consultants were able to address many of the questions regarding the MDP; however, there were still some outstanding items in the LUB that were not covered,” stated Vanas and Boese in their report to council. Councillors were given an attachment outlining the major changes to the LUB that are proposed, along with additional questions for consideration. After questions from Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3) regarding where certain activities should be classified, Boese said: “We
need to clarify the definitions around agriculture.” After Hrabec listed several examples, Boese said: “We need to clarify the definitions of agriculture.” It was also suggested that definitions could be revamped to allow for different types of housing such as tiny homes, garden homes, and others as secondary places to live on the same parcel. Any changes “would have to come back through council, so it would be best to get it right now so there are not problems,” said Hrabec. Administration also included a Land Use Summary Table in a second attachment for council’s perusal and discussion purposes. Councillor Lionel Williams (Division 2) said he felt the use of the table would “bring people out.” There is also the issue of trying to protect agricultural land. Discretionary uses in agriculture were discussed with Hrabec wondering where a drive-in movie theatre would fit in if food is served. Vana reassured Hrabec that the changes in agricultural uses apply to new development. “It doesn’t affect current businesses,” she said. Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) also stated that “some that are in business now wouldn’t fit into this,” definition in the draft. “It’s considered a non-conforming use,” said Vana, and grandfathered in unless changes are made and then the business must conform to the new standards. An existing business “can remain as is,” said Vana, “as long as no changes happen.” In discussing site coverage maximums, Hrabec asked how the county’s industrial park would work if a large warehouse wanted to move into the space. “There is no site coverage in industrial,” but it does apply to country residential areas. Boese said she will address this issue and bring it back to council. And with two public engagement sessions coming, Vana said administration can get comments before, during and after they are held.
Other discussions concerned the height of a building and fire suppression, what falls under the community living standard, and the type of dwellings allowed on a parcel of land. “We need a definition between additional and accessory dwellings,” said Smook. Boese said the county can clarify such things with the developer regarding additional dwellings. For example, an accessory development “can’t be a home.” She said they are “for personal use,” and can’t be sold or rented. “At the end of the day how do you police it?” asked Hrabec, saying it “opens up a can of worms…I see it as a big headache.” Boese tried to reassure him that the definitions would clearly defined, and would refer it to the consultants for that help. Other changes regarding how applications are received and appeals processed were called “significant changes,” by Boese, adding it could add costs to the resident in terms of getting site plans prepared. “We may hear from people about how applications are processed.” Said Vana: “It could add something (to the cost) to ensure it is done properly.”
In Loving Memory of Lucas Alexander MacLeod July 4, 1999 – June 21, 2018 We will hold you in our hearts until we see you in heaven. Missing you dearly, the Radley, Boast and MacLeod families.