Two rezoning applications to Ponoka County were turned down after councillors heard opposition on the matters.
Public hearings on the requests were held Tuesday, Dec. 16 during council’s regular meeting.
The first request came from Kelvin and Jennifer Jones to reclassify approximately five acres of land, on Township Road 432 and Range Road 11, to country residential from agricultural. A portion of the property was already subdivided some years ago, which is normally discouraged in the county’s municipal development plan, stated a letter from West Central Planning Agency.
The agency further said it could not support the proposed zoning but did not have any objections. However, there were two objections from neighbours, one written and one during the hearing.
Concerns of land being torn up and loss of wildlife were raised by Rose Hagemann, who wrote a letter to council. She suggested with the Rimbey Ridge subdivision close by, adding a lot to this parcel would not be ideal.
“Too many residential lots are being subdivided out of quarter sections,” she continued.
Jess Donald spoke against the request stating with additional subdivisions, dogs cause issues with his cattle. He says dogs usually are not leashed and he had to shoot one some years ago as it was attacking his cattle.
Mr. Jones said the 5-acres is not ideal for farming and would be better suited for residential use. He added he never objected to neighbours with their subdivision applications.
Coun. Mark Matejka did not feel approving the request would benefit the area considering the subdivision nearby. “It’s not meeting a need.”
The second application came from Leo and Jolanda van der Toorn who wanted to split a five-acre parcel in half.
Located on the corner of Township Road 424 and Range Road 245, there was one letter of opposition to the request from Mike Stretch and Henk Krijger. They felt having two small parcels would not benefit the area.
“Where is the beginning and where is the end?” Kriijger added during the public hearing.
The van der Toorns were not at the hearing so no other comments were made. Reeve Paul McLauchlin suggested the request was not ideal. “Splitting fives is a tough thing to do,” he said.
Both requests were defeated.