A public hearing was held Jan. 26 to amend the Partridge View Conceptual Scheme and redesignate a parcel of land located at the northwest junction of Springbank Road and Horizon View Road. Rocky View County (RVC) council voted to approve the proposed redesignation, but the amendments to the conceptual scheme will come back at a future meeting for second and third reading.
The proposed amendment would allow for the redesignation from Agricultural Holdings District to Residential One District, to facilitate the future subdivision of the 20-acre property – creating eight new 1.98-acre country residential lots with a 1.98-acre remainder.
According to administration’s report, the applicant has addressed stormwater issues with a conceptual level Stormwater Management Plan, and has committed to providing a comprehensive plan at the time of subdivision approval. Potable water would be supplied to the new lots by Westridge Utilities Inc., and administration said the applicant has demonstrated that capacity is available for the new lots.
However, Councillor Margaret Bahcheli raised a number of questions regarding the plans for ditches and drainage.
“I have two choices here, I can kick a lot of things down the road and leave it to the subdivision stage, or I can man up and deal with it now and get right in the conceptual scheme,” Bahcheli said. “I’m opting to man up, but I did not anticipate the way this hearing was going to go.”
Bahcheli moved to table the conceptual scheme sine die, to allow her time to prepare her amending motions before the item is brought back to council at a later date. Councillor Eric Lowther opposed the motion, which was carried 8-1. The land use redesignation was also carried 8-1, with opposition from Area Councillor Jerry Arshinoff.
A portion of land located within the Hamlet of Bragg Creek Expansion Area will be redesignated from Ranch and Farm District to a 11.64-acre Residential Two District parcel with a 12.56-acre Residential Three District remainder, in order to facilitate a future boundary adjustment and consolidation with adjacent property.
According to the applicant, the proposed Residential Three remainder portion with the existing development – a dwelling, mobile home, animal health care clinic, and multiple accessory buildings – will remain as is. The Residential Two portion will be consolidated with the adjacent property to the west, to facilitate future comprehensive subdivision in the area.
Nearby residents sent letters of opposition to the County, indicating concerns new development may cause increased traffic in the area, particularly along Burney Road. However, council unanimously approved third reading on the redesignation.
“There are concerns about access, there are concerns about what the development will look like, and concerns about development in general,” said Area Councillor Liz Breakey. “This proposal meets our area structure plan policies and our revitalization plan policies.”
Council also gave third reading to an application to redesignate land adjacent to the City of Calgary, from Residential Two District to Residential One District – facilitating the future creation of two 2-acre parcels. The land is located immediately east of Mountain View Place and will be serviced by Rocky View Water Co-op, who sent a letter to RVC confirming they have reserved capacity to service the new lot.
While the land is within a fragmented County Residential area of the County Plan, administration said the proposal is generally consistent with policy, and the existing road network is able to support future development in the area.
