By Marianne Cole
MDP REVIEW
The Municipal Development Plan review’s public input activities are wrapping up. So far 7 in-person meetings and 2 virtual (on-line) meetings have been held. People have also had the opportunity to fill in a survey that was printed in the Western Star and the Mountaineer as well as being available on the County’s website. Paper copies were also available at the meetings. Opportunity for input wrapped up on August 19, 2022.
The most contentious issue has been the proposed change to allow 2 subdivisions (3 titles) per quarter with the potential for a 3rd subdivision (4th title). The maximum size for a subdivision on a quarter is up to 20 acres (currently 5 acres). This may be from one 20 acre parcel or other small ones totally up to 20 acres. (Currently we allow one parcel out at a maximum size of 5 acres along with the possibility of a fragmented parcel being subdivided.)
Throughout the meetings (most notably the larger attended in-person ones at Leslieville and Caroline) the majority of the people were strongly opposed to the extra subdivisions per quarter. The following comments were expressed:
Significant concern over the loss of valuable farmland. This was the Number 1 concern overall.
Increasing difficulty for young farmers to remain viable or expand
Increased problems between acreage owners and farmers
Increased weed problems on acreages and the spread to adjoining farms
Extra cost of providing infrastructure services with increased subdivisions
Concern over impact on bus routes with increased stops and more approaches with more acreages
Concern over impact on increased demands on first responders
Concern with increased crime
Concerns with water and sewer issues with increased acreages
Concerns with dropping fragmentation as a possible subdivision opportunity
Those supporting increased subdivisions wanted them basically for personal reasons (estate planning and financial gain). They also thought it might bring in more tax dollars for the county but the concerns with various increased costs as noted above put a negative spin on that.
What our neighbors are doing with subdivisions
Brazeau County: 4 titles per quarter (3 subdivisions) and they will consider a fragmented parcel if the resulting subdivision doesn’t exceed 4 titles.
Wetaskiwin County: “Subdivision of an unsubdivided quarter is discouraged.” (Quote from their MDP.) A parcel of land may be subdivided to create a farm site or two 80 acres parcels. No more than one subdivided lot per quarter and the maximum parcel size is 5 acres.
Ponoka County: Depending on the land quality rating, a single residential lot may be subdivided and fragmented/segregated parcels are allowed.
Lacombe County: “There is no automatic right to subdivide.” The subdivision of a first parcel out of an unsubdivided quarter may be considered if the habitable permanent residence has been there for 5 years or more and the parcel is not greater than 4 acres (unless there are shelterbelts and outbuildings). Fragmented parcels are allowed but must not result in more than 3 titles.
Red Deer County: A maximum of one agricultural parcel out of a subdivided quarter (2 titles) is allowed if a farmstead, severance, or valued added agricultural operation. “The approval of a bare agricultural parcel subdivision will be entirely a discretionary decision on the part of the subdivision authority.” In that case the subdivision authority would be Red Deer County. Parcel size would be according to the Land Use Bylaw.
Mountain View County: The first parcel out of a previously unsubdivided quarter may only be supported by the County for the creation of one additional parcel subject to a re-designation and subdivision application, and provisions of the LUB and MDP. It has 2 categories of assessing the number of subdivisions/titles allowed: Agricultural Preservation Area: The maximum number of titles per quarter is 2 and with a farmstead separation the allowable size is 2 – 9 acres. Multi-lot Residential Areas allow up to 4 titles per quarter with sizes varying from 2 to 5 acres.
Where do we go from here??
Step 1. All comments received/heard at the meetings will be reviewed and a report prepared by Planning Staff to present to Council.
Step 2. Council will review the report and decide to either proceed with approving the document or make changes.
Step 3. A final draft will be created as is or with changes.
Step 4. A public hearing will be held to present the final draft to the public. Potentially in November.
Step 5. Council will approve or not approve the Municipal Development Plan that has been developed.
Note: Questions were frequently asked about who makes the decisions on the MDP. Administration replied that it is up to Council to approve/not approve the document that is presented. In return, concerns were expressed if Council would actually listen to the people.
Certainly this is a very large issue and, as was mentioned at one of the meetings in Rocky, councillors need to put personal opinions aside and listen to the people. We hope and trust this will happen.
Coming Events:
Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 7:30PM, Arbutus Community Hall, Regular meeting.
Wednesday, October 12, 2022, 7:30PM, Arbutus Community Hall, Regular meeting.
