“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is the sentiment shared by a grassroots organization raising alarms over Clearwater County’s proposed Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The proposed draft has sparked concerns from the Clearwater County Taxpayers’ Association (CCTA), with members questioning a perceived lack of public engagement and the potential for increased government oversight.
According to Marianne Cole, president of the CCTA, the organization feels that public involvement in the drafting process has been insufficient. “There hasn’t been enough opportunity for people to actually see the draft or provide feedback,” said Cole in an interview with 94.5 Rewind Radio News.
Cole also points to other concerns raised by the group.
For example, she says a draft document circulated among the public includes measures that would regulate storage of recreational vehicles (RVs) and shipping containers, commonly referred to as “seacans.” She says these structures are particularly popular in Nordegg, where they serve as a practical storage solution. Under the new bylaw, she says seacans would be prohibited in hamlets, and restrictions on where they can be located, such as prohibiting visibility from the road, are drawing ire from residents.
Another point of contention is the proposed enforcement structure, which the CCTA believes could lead to conflict among neighbours. Cole says a draft includes a complaint-based system for enforcement, she says, where neighbours could lodge complaints about one another’s land use. “This could pit neighbours against each other,” Cole said. “People don’t want to be living under a system where they’re constantly worried about their neighbours calling in complaints.”
Cole also highlighted the rewrites proposed clauses regarding deck and porch construction in hamlets, which she believes are overly restrictive.
A joint emailed statement from Kimberly Gilham, Manager of Planning & Development for Clearwater County, and Christine Heggart, Director of Planning and Emergency Services, says an eight-member Public Advisory Committee (PAC) has been working through sections of the draft with administration and a consultant over the last year.
It goes on to say members of the PAC have shared excerpts of the draft rewrite they previously received with members of the public, which county officials presume is where concerns originated.
Amid these concerns, Clearwater County has set up a website with FAQs (frequently asked questions) and a portal for public feedback, and through it, has worked to dispel some of the myths surrounding the proposed LUB.
According to the website, the LUB is designed to ensure balanced and sustainable development while maintaining the community’s aesthetics and functionality. According to the LUB, it aims to strike a balance between property rights and public safety by preventing incompatible land uses and protecting property values.
The county has also asserted that the LUB is adaptable to the needs of diverse communities, with provisions for mixed-use developments and flexible zoning regulations.
However, these assurances have done little to quell the concerns of the grassroots group, which believes the current system, in place since 2001, is already functional and does not require drastic changes. “Certainly there may be some revisions, but not to the extent that is being proposed,” said Cole.
A public information meeting will take place March 18 at the Caroline Community Hub, where residents will have an opportunity to voice their concerns and hear presentations on both the proposed LUB, as well as a recently discussed solar farm project just outside the hamlet. The meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Gilham and Heggart say a full draft of the rewrite is expected for public consumption by the end of March.
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