By Marianne Cole
MDP PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023, 9:00AM, LOU SOPPIT CENTRE, ROCKY MTN. HOUSE.
This is the main opportunity for people to voice their opinions on the proposed revised draft of the Municipal Development Plan. As mentioned numerous times, the most controversial parts of the document are the:
· Increase in allowable subdivisions per quarter from 1 to ultimately 3
· Increase in allowable size of the subdivision from 5 acres to 15 acres in total (This can be 1 subdivision or divided among others that would total no more than 15 acres.)
Concerns have been raised about the negative impact on farming operations and the potential loss of food producing land with these proposed changes.
Concerns are now being raised about the hearing being held at a time when many are at work and unable to attend. We encourage those who can’t come to the hearing to write, email, or call their councillor to voice their opinions. Contact information is as follows:
a. Mail: Send to your councillor at Clearwater County, Box 550, Rocky Mtn. House, AB T4T 1A4
b. Email or Phone: · Div. 1: Deputy Reeve Gennifer Mehlhaff, gmehlhaff@clearwatercounty.ca (403)846-8254 · Div. 2: Sydney Graham, sgraham@clearwatercounty.ca (403)846-3760 · Div. 3: Reeve Daryl Lougheed, dlougheed@clearwatercounty.ca (403)846-5817 · Div. 4: Jordan Northcott, jnorthcott@clearwatercounty.ca (403)895-2649 · Div. 5: Neil Ratcliffe, nratcliffe@clearwatercounty.ca (403)895-3215 · Div. 6: Bryan Cermak, bcermak@clearwatercounty.ca (403)846-5197 · Div. 7: Michelle Swanson, mswanson@clearwatercounty.ca (403)846-5824
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT??
1. Following the hearing, Council will consider 2nd and 3rd reading of a motion to accept the MDP. If that passes, the document becomes law.
2. They could make a motion to accept the document with changes (such as reducing the subdivisions to the current number (1) and the acres back down to 5.
3. If the motions don’t pass, council will have to review the document and work to hopefully address people’s concerns.
WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO??
1. Express their opinion by contacting their councillor and/or attending the hearing.
2. If council passes the motion to accept the MDP as is, residents have 3 options:
a. Accept Council’s decision.
b. Organize a petition to have council repeal their decision. That petition must be filed within 60 days after the resolution/motion was passed and must be signed by 10% of the population. 30 days after that Council must give 1st reading to a motion to deal with the matter of the petition.
c. Notify the CAO of their intent to start a petition to recall a councillor/s. Organizers would then have 60 days to gather signatures and submit the petition to the Chief Electoral Officer. The petition must be signed by 40% of the electors in that councillor’s division. This would be followed by a recall vote and if there is a majority in favor of the recall, the councillor ceases to hold office.
WE TRUST THAT COUNCIL WILL LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE AND OPTIONS B or C WON’T BE NECESSARY
Tamarack Transit System Project
The Clearwater Regional Housing Foundation and Steering Committee is looking at ideas to effectively provide a rural public transit solution for seniors, low-income residents, or other compromised residents. They are currently planning Community Engagement Meetings at the Rocky Legion on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, 2:00pm-4:00pm and 6:30pm-8:30pm; Leslieville Community Center, Thursday, February 16, 2021, 6:30pm-8:30pm; Nordegg Community Centre, Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 2:00pm-4:00pm, and 6:30pm-8:30pm; and Caroling Legion, Wednesday, March 15, 2023, 6:30pm-8:30pm.
They are also conducting a survey and you may contact Janice Fraser at (587)777-8139 or via email at crhf2016@gmail.com to get a copy of the survey. They will then report back to the community at a Clearwater County Town Hall meeting at the Rocky Legion on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 7:00-9:00pm.
Solar Farm Concerns
Recent proposals for solar farms in the Sylvan Lake/Benalto area as well as Caroline have raised concerns about their viability, the loss of good agricultural land, and reclamation issues. The CCTA is looking into getting speakers to address these concerns and we will keep you posted on a future meeting once it’s organized.
Coming events:
Wednesday, February 8, 2023, 7:30PM, Arbutus Community Hall, Regular meeting
Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 9:00AM, Lou Soppit Center, Rocky Mtn. House, MDP Public Hearing
Wednesday, March 8, 2023, 7:30PM, Arbutus Community Hall Regular meeting
