BARRHEAD - A sand and gravel company can finally close an undeveloped road allowance running through its property.
On April 1, County of Barrhead councillors gave second and third readings to Road Closure Bylaw 9-2024, allowing River Valley Crushing to decommission an undeveloped road allowance running between parcels of land of its gravel operation on the county's west side, north of Highway 33 and south of the Athabasca River, expand its operations and operate more efficiently.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun said it has been a long process.
"It does take time. It is not just a simple resolution," she said.
River Valley Crushing first asked the municipality to begin the closure process for the road allowance in mid-August 2023.
A year later, the company entered into a road allowance agreement with the province, requiring them to pay for any gravel they extract. On Halloween of 2024, the municipality agreed to sell 2.5 acres of road allowance to River Valley Crushing at $2,400 an acre. The sale was conditional on the approval of the bylaw.
On Dec. 17, 2024, council gave first reading to the bylaw, with the open house taking place on Feb. 4, 2025, with no one in attendance and the municipality receiving no comments for or against.
Following the public hearing, Oyarzun said the municipality forwarded the application to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, adding that the ministry approved the application on their end.
She said that, currently, River Valley Crushing's operation is on one side of the road allowance, and now that the road allowance has been decommissioned, the company will proceed with its plan of extracting aggregate on the opposing parcel, including the former road allowance.
"For safety and efficiency, they want to absorb the road allowance into their operating licence, which will become part of their code and practice," Oyarzun said, adding that the developer is responsible for all the costs and registration. "The end use of the site is an end pit lake."
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
