BARRHEAD - A County of Barrhead resident received the go-ahead to create a four-acre residential parcel from their property adjacent to Highway 18 and Range Road 33.
Councillors approved an application to create the residential section from their property by a 4-1 vote during the Sept. 3 council meeting. Coun. Walter Preugschas was opposed, and councillors Jared Stoik and Bill Lane were absent.
Development officer Jenny Bruins said the parcel is in an Agricultural District and, due to its proximity to the Town of Barrhead border, is subject to the county's inter-municipal development plan (IDP) with the municipality.
An IDP is a land-use plan prepared by municipalities that share a common border. Its purpose is to reduce the potential for conflicts between municipalities about future developments near their borders that might impact their residents.
The town hasn't raised any objections to the application.
She noted that the property has already been subdivided and thus has two residential parcels, one of which has a developed yard site and outbuildings.
Bruns added that the application also meets the county's municipal development plan requirements, which caps residential parcels at five acres and that a maximum of 17 acres out of a quarter are taken out for residential purposes.
She noted that the total acres taken out for residential would be 15.16 acres.
The residential portion will be accessed via Highway 18, while the remainder of the lot will be accessed via Range Road 33.
Bruns stated that Alberta Transportation has approved the approaches, which have already been constructed to county standards.
However, she said the agency does require a service road caveat along the frontage for the remaining parcel.
A road widening agreement is not required as it was done at a previous stage.
However, she said municipal reserves (MR), or funds in lieu of, are due as it is the third parcel out of the quarter; adding at the current market land price of $7,000 an acre, it would come to roughly $1,100.
Bruns said that wetlands are present in most county areas, but suitable building pockets exist.
She added that administration recommends approval on the condition that the applicant enter into the service road caveat with Alberta Transportation, MR funds are paid, and real property and septic reports are completed.
"It checks all the boxes," Bruns said.
Preugschas questioned the suitability of a residential site at the location, saying two intensive agriculture operations, a feedlot and a dairy, were relatively close, and several acreages were already in the area.
County manager Debbie Oyarzun countered that the applicant knows about the operations.
"So it is really up to them if they want a residential parcel there," she said.
Deputy reeve Marvin Schatz agreed, adding that even if the current owners decide to sell the property, prospective buyers would also be aware that the feedlot and dairy are nearby.
Residential subdivision approval
Council also approved a similar request to create a five-ace residential parcel adjacent to Township Road 631 and Range Road 35 near Woodlands County.
Creation of an 80-acre parcel
Councillors also approved a request to create an 80-acre parcel near Range Roads 72 and 73, roughly five kilometres from the Lac Ste. Anne border, and consolidate an additional 80-acre parcel into adjacent land, creating a 241-acre parcel.
Bruns noted that the land is in an Agricultural District and has a developed yard site and outbuildings, but it has not previously been subdivided.
Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com
