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Public hearings keep Ponoka County busy

Ponoka County councillors had a full slate of public hearings during a meetin, June 17, with only one rezoning request

Ponoka County councillors had a full slate of public hearings during a meetin, June 17, with only one rezoning request causing debate between neighbours.

Ronald, Patricia and Helen Hagemann submitted a proposal to council to rezone five acres, on Range Road 260 and Township Road 422, to country residential from country residential hobby.

Adjacent landowner Gary Anderson spoke to council and said he hoped to see a subdivision plan as he has property nearby that he is also developing. He was worried the five-acre parcel could be subdivided at a later date and he did not want to see smaller lots in the area.

The five acres is situated on an 80-acre property and Anderson suggested the entire property should be zoned country residential. Ron Hagemann replied that they do not intend to develop the land further.

CAO Charlie Cutforth asked if the Hagemanns would allow the entire 80-acre parcel to be rezoned and Mr. Hagemann replied that he would as long as it did not affect their plans.

Coun. Mark Matejka was concerned over the change and asked how the county should proceed with parcels of land on either said of the Hagemanns and Andersons. “This is the problem I’m having when the neighbour dictates the zoning.”

While he had no issue with Anderson’s suggestion, he believed council should only proceed with the original request. There was also the question of whether the county would have to advertise the request again in the newspaper. Council voted on the original request, which was approved.

More rezoning applications

Delbert and Donna Merrill, with help from agent Kenneth Merrill, asked to reclassify approximately five acres south of Ponoka on Range Road 255 to country residential from agricultural district for future subdivision in the area.

There were no objections and the request was approved.

Land west of Ponoka on Secondary Highway 795,north of Highway 53, was approved for country residential use from agricultural district. Submitted by LBM Holdings, the request was for 18.5 acres for either two nine-acre parcels or three six-acre parcels.

Another application came from John and Alice Boeringa, who wanted to change 12.6 acres on Highway 53 and Range Road 13 to country residential hobby farm from restricted agriculture.

“It’s a beautiful nature corridor, we’d like to keep it like that,” said Mr. Boeringa.

The request was approved.

Next up was Jason Dyck, agent for numbered company 1279970 AB Ltd., seeking to rezone approximately 80 acres to country residential hobby from agricultural district. Dyck said the proposal is for four 10-acre lots and one 33.3-acre lot.

“This area has been identified for potential development,” he explained.

The request was approved.

Randy and Gail Stuart requested approximately 80 acres to country residential hobby farm from agricultural district. The request, which was approved, is for land on Range Road 15 and Township Road 424.

Mr. Stuart said he feels the property is ideal for the proposal and says his neighbours already believed it to be country residential.

A request from Jerry Dodds to reclassify approximately 6.5-acres to country residential from agricultural district was approved. The property is located near Range Road 261 on C and E Trail.