M.D. examines rezone request

By Cole Parkinson
Vauxhall Advance
cparkinson@tabertimes.com

The Municipal District of Taber has received a request to rezone a lot from Grouped Country Residential to Direct Control to increase the development potential of the parcel. At council’s regular meeting held in July, the request to rezone Lot 1 Block 2 Plan 9611496 in NW 8-9-16-W4 was brought forward.

“This proposed bylaw is requesting the consideration of first reading by council to rezone Lot 1, Block 1, Plan 9611496 in the northwest quarter of 8-9-16 W4 from group country residential to direct control. This property has had a significant amount of consideration for developing at a higher density and it has been determined through several attempts and studies that is it not suitable for further subdivision,” explained Bonnie Brunner, senior planner with Oldman River Regional Services Commission. “As such, under current zoning, group country residential, the landowner is limited in terms of what can occur as there is no area structure plan on this property or the adjacent property, and therefore to improve saleability, the applicants have requested consideration for rezone to direct control, which would specifically establish requirements or allowances for a limited business undertaking, a dwelling, and keeping of animals.”

Administration’s report also explained that rezoning to Rural Agricultural is “not possible as the number of existing contiguous parcels within the quarter section constitutes the definition of Grouped Country Residential, therefore Direct control is the only rezoning option for this parcel.”

The land was rezoned to Grouped Country Residential from Rural Agricultural in 1996 with the idea it would be subdivided into several smaller acreages.

“A soils analysis undertaken by the developer found that the soil was not suitable for multiple septic fields. The parcel has remained vacant and development potential is limited due to the current zoning. The owner is requesting to rezone the parcel to Direct Control to make it more appealing to potential buyers,” reads administration’s report.

Brunner also further explained the keeping of animals aspect of the rezone.

“The keeping of animals component in the direct control district is prescribed based on what the applicants have requested,” she said. “The reason why we’re proposing direct control at this location here is the number of parcels within the quarter section constitutes group country residential, and therefore without an amendment in the Land Use Bylaw, changing the definition of group country residential, there is no other suitable or feasible designation at this point in time. Therefore, direct control is well suited to a circumstance like this here there really are no other allowances in the Land Use Bylaw that then allows for site-specific consideration of a property that has the site-specific constraints.”

Brunner also stated other pieces would be permitted as well.

“So, within the direct control bylaw, it is proposed that dwellings and temporary shipping containers would be listed as permitted,” she added.

A motion that Bylaw No. 1978, being an amendment to Land Use Bylaw No. 1722 be given first reading, a public hearing be set for Aug. 10 at 10 a.m., and to notify adjacent landowners within a half-mile radius was carried unanimously. Coun. Leavitt Howg was absent from the meeting.

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