Title
PUBLIC HEARING - 2:00 p.m. (30 mins.)
Bylaw No. 2013-05 proposed Land Use Bylaw amendment to Section 9.4 Whitewood Direct Control District Regulations (DC Area 3)
Proposed Motions
1. That Bylaw No. 2013-05 receive second reading.
2. That Bylaw No. 2013-05 receive third and final reading.
Body
Administration Recommendation
After hearing public comment regarding Bylaw No. 2013-05, administration supports consideration that Bylaw No. 2013-05 receive second and third (final) reading. The attached report supports the proposed Land Use Bylaw amendment as mining activities in the Whitewood area have ceased and reclamation activities are currently being completed by TransAlta.
Purpose
An owner of a quarter section of land - located within the Whitewood Direct Control District - has made application to build a house on their lands. The Land Use Bylaw - currently does not allow Administration to approve construction of any new residences in this DC area.
Summary
In 1984, County of Parkland No. 31 passed (by resolution 360-84) the Whitewood Direct Control District Regulations. These regulations were revoked by Parkland County and, in 2009, regulations guiding these Direct Control lands were incorporated into the County's new Land Use Bylaw. The original 1984 regulation, and current Land Use Bylaw, each dealt with the prospect of new residential development in the same way: "Country residential development is restricted to infilling within the existing Brookside Estates Subdivision. No new areas for country residential will be permitted."
This prohibition was appropriate during the active mining stage of these TransAlta lands (Whitewood Mine). Administration understands that some of these lands were incorporated into this Direct Control district as a 1/2 mile (quarter section deep) buffer against pre-existing residential development to the east. The intent, of this buffer (and apparently the prohibition on further residential develo...
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