Rocky View County council unanimously approved an application to rezone part of a 158-acre parcel of farmland west of Airdrie on May 8.
Larry Konschuk of Bert Brown Land Consultants Ltd. represented the landowner, Scott Porteus, and asked that the land, located at the intersection of Highway 567 and Panorama Road, be split into two sections, a 63-acre parcel in the north and a 95-acre parcel in the south. He said the areas are already naturally separated by topography and a tributary of Nose Creek.
“Topography, soil types and the creek have created two distinct use areas within the subject lands,” said Konschuk. “The landowner strongly believes separating the two distinct pieces of land is a far better way of preserving the land.”
Konschuk told council that the northern area is suited for crop production and currently farmed by a neighbour, while the south area supports an existing pure bred Angus beef operation with 2,500 head of cattle. He noted that the south area also includes a two-acre site containing the GoldenRod Community Hall.
He also noted that the two areas are already separated by a fence line running parallel to the creek and that rezoning and subdividing the land would allow Porteus to sell the land more easily.
Amy Zaluski of the County’s development planning department told council that County staff had circulated the application to 12 adjacent landowners and received one letter supporting the rezoning.
“We are in favour of this application, as we see no adverse affect regarding this request,” wrote Bob and Norma Bilben in their letter.
Councillors Lois Habberfield and Greg Boehlke moved that council give the rezoning application second and third reading, respectively.
“I think this is a reasonable redesignation. There is no land being lost to agriculture, it is simply creating two smaller agricultural parcels,” said Habberfield. “To create a separate title does not hurt anything and does, in fact, benefit the landowner.”
Both second and third readings were approved unanimously.
