Clearwater County is seeking more information before deciding whether to approve a new salvage and storage yard west of Rocky Mountain House.

Following a well-attended Oct. 13 public hearing, council voted to postpone its decision on the land use amendment and work with the applicant, R.M. Salvage, to develop a site plan addressing concerns about land impacts, setbacks, noise and appearance.

Council also raised the possibility of designating the land as direct control rather than industrial, which would give the county greater control over what could take place on the property in the future.

At the public hearing, representatives from R.M. Salvage told council their application had been somewhat mischaracterized.

Applicant representative Bob Haagsma says concerns raised by opponents have conjured images of unsightly metal and scrap yards, when the proposal is actually for a storage facility.

Haagsma says the applicant wants to be a good neighbour and believes visitors to the area would notice little impact.

“You’d drive by, and you’d not see a bin, you’d not see a trailer or a truck — you’ll see a fence, a berm and some vegetation,” he said.

Scrap metal operations have been concentrated north of town near the airport and will remain there, he said.

Haagsma added that a similar application for a salvage yard in the area was denied in 2025, prompting the proponents to go back to the drawing board and develop a proposal they believe would be more acceptable to the community.

A county resident who spoke in support of the proposal argued the parcel is unsuitable for agriculture, as well as other uses, and would be well suited to a storage yard.

Opposition voiced at public hearing

One county resident said existing industrial lands, designated years ago and still available, could be a better location for a storage yard.

Other concerns centred on potential impacts to nearby wetlands and drinking water, as well as the area’s overall appearance.

Concerns were also raised about the land use redesignation itself, with one county resident questioning what a future landowner might be permitted to build or operate on the newly designated industrial land.

The Town of Rocky Mountain House also weighed in. While a letter from town council stopped short of opposing the proposal, it raised concerns about the yard’s location near the entrance to the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, which it described as a significant tourism asset.

Parks Canada submitted a letter opposing the proposal, outlining several concerns, including what it called the “sense of arrival” for tourists visiting the national historic site.

The agency also raised concerns about the historic use of the land by Indigenous people and the presence of archaeological artifacts that could be lost if the proposal proceeds.

Another submission questioned why rezoning in the area was being considered again, given that the county rejected a similar application about 18 months earlier.

One letter characterized the proposal as a “dump” and questioned why the county would consider such a development along a well-travelled road linking visitors to Crimson Lake, Twin Lakes, the golf course, gun range and West Country.

Council is expected to revisit the application at a future meeting.