Mining update and bylaw amendments

Land Use Bylaw Amendments and the introduction of Riversdale Resource’s new CEO Mike Young

NICK ALLEN Pass Herald Reporter

Council deliberated several bylaws and heard remarks from the new CEO of Riversdale Resources at a meeting on January 24.

There were public hearings for Bylaw 1130, 2022, a Land Use Bylaw Amendment to redesignate the Ski Hill lands from various land use districts to Recreation and Open Space (RO-1), Bylaw 1136, 2022, a bylaw to redesignate a closed portion of land from Recreation and Open Space (RO-1) to Residential (R-1), Bylaw 1137, 2022, a Land Use Bylaw Amendment to redesignate a portion of land from Public (P-1) to Comprehensive Ski Village (CSV) and Bylaw 1138, 2022, a Municipal Reserve closure and removal of Municipal Reserve designation on a portion of land.

All of the bylaws passed both second and third readings after public input, including concerns on the advertising of property before a sale was allowed to proceed. Clarification on the process was made by the CAO Patrick Thomas later during deliberations.

Council also received an updated from Riversdale Resources along with an introduction from the new CEO Mike Young.

After giving a brief history of himself and the company, he spoke about the Joint Review Panel (JRP) decision and his role moving forward.

“I’m here to review the project, particularly in light of the JRP decision. Currently, I’m really getting up to speed on the project,” said Young.

According to Young, the day after the decision took everyone by surprise.

“Even the people that were deeply involved in it were surprised at the decision,” added Young, “I think the expectation is that the mine would be permitted to proceed with a lot of conditions, and from what I’ve read that should have been the case.”

As they progress with legal cases, Young said when Riversdale are finished the project they want to leave the Crowsnest Pass better off than when they came to the area.

Young also mentioned the road access and how they are working on having proffesionals look at the road to assess risk moving forward.

“Depending on those findings and the cost we’ll then consult the landowners to determine an appropriate way forward for possible access to the road during the snow season,” he added.

After the delegation and public input period there was also a motion by councillor Dean Ward for administration to bring back information about water rates in other constituencies.

Council Meetings are held in Council Chambers in the Municipal office at 8502 19 Avenue, Coleman. These meetings are open to the public except on some occasions where all or part of a meeting is closed to the public to prevent the disclosure of information that is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Any part of a Council Meeting that is closed to the public is known as In Camera.