Proposed amendments to Rocky View County’s (RVC) Land Use Bylaw aim to “give a bit more flexibility” to the bylaw, according to RVC senior planner Mike Marko. The amendments were released at an open house hosted on Dec. 11, but are also available on the County’s website, rockyview.ca.
The Land Use Bylaw is a tool used by administration and residents to address how to use land within the County. The document implements the rules and regulations around these uses, relating to issues like setbacks, lot coverage, landscaping, parking and storage.
“These are considered operational or administrative type amendments to clarify some of the rules and make it clearer and more interpretable for both the public and administration, when we have to apply the rules and regulations to deal with permits and things of that nature,” Marko said.
One major change proposed in the new bylaw would allow an accessory building to be constructed on a site that doesn’t necessarily have a principle use building, according to Marko. He said the accessory building would be permitted as an accessory to the use of the land.
“For example, you currently have to have a residential building if you want to build a storage shed or a detached garage,” said Marko.
“What we are looking at now is allowing a bit more flexibility, so that you can have an agricultural operation without a residence there, and still have the ability to construct an accessory building in conjunction with that use.”
The new document also proposes changes to comply with new provincial legislation, like provisions to deal with development within floodways and provisions relating to home-based businesses.
“We really just wanted to tighten it up and add more clarity to existing rules and definitions,” said RVC planner Johnson Kwan, who has been working on the document since March of 2014.
“We are expecting to bring it to council sometime in March 2015.”
According to Marko, RVC administration conducts operational reviews of policies and bylaws every few years, to ensure that documents remain current. While he said it’s not a major project, it’s an important “housekeeping item” that needs to be maintained.
“We want this to be a user-friendly document that County residents can understand and can relate to,” he said.
“We are always looking for better ways to apply the provisions that the bylaw regulates.”
