Rocky View County (RVC) council voted against administration’s recommendation and approve an application requesting the creation of one lot from a quarter section located within the Balzac East Area Structure Plan.
The intent of the application is to split the title into two parcels to divide the property – a 52.88 acre parcel with a 106.27 acre remainder between two current owners.
The vacant land is located on the south side of CrossIron Drive, between Dwight McLellan Trail on the west and Range Road 292 on the east. Administration recommended that council refuse the application due to a lack of approved concept plan as required by the Balzac East Area Structure Plan and a Direct Control (DC) District Bylaw.
“There is no post development contemplated at this time,” said Mike Marko, with RVC Planning & Development Services.
“Certain items have been identified as possibilities if subdivision were contemplated that would be required, all road-widening related.”
Infrastructure and Operations Services General Manager Byron Riemann said there is value in getting the road widened, as RVC has been dealing with the land owners for several years and have been waiting for a subdivision possibility.
“Although that is important to us, it’s also important for us to follow policy, and I think that’s why you see that recommendation from administration,” he said.
Marko advised council that should the subdivision be approved, concept plans could still be done individually. He also said that the Municipal Government Act gives council flexibility around the bylaw, providing the land remains in the agricultural state it is in today.
“The opportunity here to get that road widening for a simple subdivision, and then the concept plans could proceed following, does have value for the county,” Habberfield said.
“This could be strategic in the development of road networks in that area. I don’t want to see a bylaw stand in the way of something that is going to make things better in the area. Now we have a way to work with the land owners individually, and I think it would be beneficial.”
The applicant and land owner Monyca Ambrozic was present at the meeting, and agreed to Habberfield’s request to comply with the provisions regarding the preparation of a concept plan for the lands, prior to development. Ambrozic purchased the land in 1975 with her ex-husband, whom she divorced 37 years ago.
“There has never been between us any agreement to do anything with the land, it’s still wild,” she said.
“Right now we have to separate it between us, that’s all I’m asking. I have no intention of building anything or subdividing.”
Councillor Habberfield made a motion for the approval of the subdivision, to move forward the completion of the road network in the area. Reeve Margaret Bahcheli seconded the motion, and the motion was carried.
“I think this highlights why we have a whole separate court system for family law, as opposed to the other system for commercial law,” Bahcheli said.
“I would be voting against this in any other circumstance, but I don’t have the patience nor do I think I want to put the county at risk of waiting another 35 years for these parties to agree on anything so that we can get the road allowance.”
