Maximizing agricultural land

BARRHEAD - A Mellowdale resident can create a yard site separation thanks to a decision by County of Barrhead council.

Councillor approved the application by Sunny Acre Farms to create a 2.87-acre yard site separation.

The property, roughly 1.85 kilometres north of Barrhead, is in an agricultural district.

However, development officer Jenny Bruns noted that the property had previously been subdivided from a parcel zoned for institutional use.

"The yard site is developed, but the rest just has some outbuildings," she said.

Under the land-use bylaw, Bruns said the maximum allowed per quarter for a residential parcel is 10 acres, but on rare occasions, up to 15 acres are allowed.

"The parcel meets the requirements, and it has been designed to minimize the loss of farmland," she said.

Bruns added access to the new residential parcel, and the remaining property will be via Highway 769. She also noted that Alberta Transportation did not require a service road and that the municipality had no approach or road widening requirements as the highway was provincial jurisdiction.

Bruns also said that although wetlands and creeks exist on the parcel, suitable building pockets exist.

She said the administration recommended approval of the application with the standard conditions of a septic inspection, along with a real property report, and that any requirements for service roads or service road caveats meet Alberta Transportation requirements.

Bruns added that the county is also asking for a real property report, mainly to ensure the location of the septic system to ensure that it meets provincial requirements.

Deputy reeve Marvin Schatz asked how large the remaining intuitional property was.

Bruns replied 10 acres.

"Going under [15 acres] is only for residential purposes," she said. "It doesn't include ag, institutional, commercial or industrial."

Schatz then asked if the applicant could potentially take out more land from the quarter.

Bruns said yes, but it would likely take work.

"They would need to build it out first," she said. "Your [vacant parcels] are always kept to five acres, and the approaches might become an issue."

Reeve Doug Drozd credited the applicant with attempting to keep as much of the quarter available for agriculture.

"That's a nice, tight little acreage," he said.

Barry Kerton, TownandCountryToday.com