After receiving first and second reading at a public hearing on April 28, final reading was given to an application to redesignate a portion of land from Direct Control District to Residential Two District at Rocky View County (RVC) council’s meeting on May 12.
The application was recommended for refusal by RVC administration due to the first parcel out approved on the land in 2005, following a redesignation to Direct Control District to accommodate a manufacturing business with an associated dwelling.
The proposed redesignation would facilitate the creation of a seven-acre parcel with a 12.94-acre remainder on the land, located south of Big Hill Springs Road near the City of Airdrie.
The parcel would be used by David Poffenroth, who plans to live on the land and continue to work with his parents, landowners Leslie and Marilyn Poffenroth, at their tree manufacturing business.
According to Larry Konschuk with Bert Brown Land Consultants, who represented the Poffenroths at the public hearing on April 28, the family has owned the land since 1995, and since that time have grown more than 6,000 trees.
Konschuk said in addition to several family members, the business employs 10 other residents of RVC.
“He wants to build a home on the proposed seven-acre parcel, and of course, he needs a separate title for financing,” Konschuk said. “Nothing changes on the site, except this helps this family keep this very successful business here in Rocky View.”
This will provide the landowners with the opportunity to travel and ensure there will be someone on-site at their business at all times, said Konschuk.
“I realize that it doesn’t exactly fit our County Plan, however, this does seem to be a very successful site that has some acres of surplus land,” said Deputy Reeve Lois Habberfield. “Rocky View, I think, could thrive with having more home-based businesses where we can live and work in the same area.”
The application did receive first and second reading at the April 28 meeting, but with councillors Al Sacuta and Jerry Arshinoff voting in opposition, unanimous approval was not given for the item to proceed to third reading at the time.
Habberfield moved to give the application third and final reading, which passed 5-3 with councillors Arshinoff, Sacuta and Liz Breakey voting in opposition. Due to his absence at the April 28 hearing, Councillor Greg Boehlke was required to recuse himself from the vote.
