A road dedication was unanimously approved by council on Sept. 29, affecting three County-owned parcels that have now been reassigned to Alberta Transportation for the upgrades to Highway 8 and 766.
“Two of the subject lands are located at the intersection of Highway 8 and Range Road 31, and the third is located at the intersection of Highway 766 and Lochend Drive,” said Rick Wiljamaa, manager of engineering services with RVC. “Administration has assessed the value of all of the lands involved at $8,600, to which Alberta Transportation has agreed.”
Wiljamaa added acceptance was also granted from Rocky View Schools, as the requested lands are Municipal Reserve.
Tax cancellation
Council unanimously approved a property tax cancellation request for the Dalroy Gymkhana Club for the amount of $597.83, as the properties have been used for community purposes for a number of years.
Bylaw amendments
An amendment to the Crossfield Recreation District Board bylaw was given third reading by council and was passed unanimously, removing the requirement for an Agricultural Society representative and adding an additional member at large.
According to administration, the representative from the Crossfield Agricultural Society resigned from the recreation board and the society has indicated they no longer wish to appoint a member to the recreation board with membership declining. The addition of a second member at large from the county will allow the Crossfield Recreation Board to maintain their current configuration of six voting and one non-voting members.
Election signs
Council also unanimously approved recommended updates to the election sign bylaw, to provide further clarification and guidelines in accordance with relevant legislation and legislative changes that have occurred since the original bylaw in 2005.
Third reading was passed unanimously on Land Use Bylaw amendments, despite opposition from Boehlke on the first two readings. These amendments address issues relating to placement of fill, including drainage impacts, potential contamination, unsightly properties, and traffic impacts.
“There are too many variables up to discretion,” Boehlke said. “I want to see ease for the customer and removing the questions.”
According to RVC, the changes to the bylaw refine the Development Permit and associated studies requirements in order to ensure that any potential impact as a result of the filling activity is being properly mitigated.
Caps debated
A report was presented to council following Councillor Greg Boehlke’s notice of motion on July 9, requesting to remove any reference to population caps or references to communities of 10,000 residents in the County Plan. According to RVC, the number is a guideline to help hamlets maintain “rural character” and was not intended to be interpreted as a population cap, and is open to review at any time.
“Population does not have anything to do with rural atmosphere – it’s about the community and the people who decide to live there,” said Al Schule, president of the Langdon area Chamber of Commerce. “(When) you put out a number, whatever you want to call it, the development industry sees (a cap).”
Boehlke’s motion failed on a tie, with Councillors Liz Breakey, Jerry Arshinoff, Reeve Margaret Bahcheli and Deputy Reeve Lois Habberfield voting in opposition.
