Bashaw town council approved a subdivision application from Brian and Amy Bendfeld for their property located at NE 4-42-21 W4 which is located on the town’s edge and is zoned urban expansion. ECA Review/Submitted
Bashaw town council gave its approval to a property owner’s subdivision application. The application was presented at the Dec. 18 regular meeting of council.
Town Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller presented the application from Brian and Amy Bendfeld for their property located at NE 4-42-21 W4 which is located on the town’s edge and is zoned urban expansion; the application was written by Camrose County, which is contracted to handle the town’s development applications.
The application form noted the proposal of the application is to create one lot along the northeast boundary, the subdivision is residential in nature and includes 4.63 acres.
“The applicant has applied to create one new lot of approximately 4.6 acres,” stated the development officer’s report. “The acreage contains an existing yard site.
“The remainder of the parcel will be left as farmland with another residential yard site at the southeast corner.”
The development officer’s report noted rezoning doesn’t appear necessary as land-use change isn’t proposed and the application meets land-use bylaw (LUB) rules. It was further noted all the parcels involved have suitable physical access.
The development officer’s recommendation was to approve the application with standard conditions, such as any outstanding property taxes be paid and that any sewage systems meet regulations.
In a phone call to the ECA Review Dec. 22 Fuller stated this parcel is located on the northeast corner of Bashaw and in the past this property was used for agriculture.
She added that in the past this property owner has raised concerns to town council about unsatisfactory services at this edge of town. The property owner in the past voiced interest in having their parcel removed from town boundaries and merged with the county.
The Camrose County documentation included the fact that municipality forwarded this application to a number of referral agencies for comment, including Alberta Transportation, Fortis and Battle River Power, and no concerns were received.
It was also noted that this application was publicly posted and the authority received no comments either for or against it from the public.
Councillors unanimously approved the subdivision application with the conditions presented.
Land sale
Town council also approved a land sale below market value after a report by the CAO.
Fuller stated the town received a $10,000 offer for a parcel of land located at Lot 12, Block 101, Plan 8120619 and because the offer was below the market value of that property the town was required by law to advertise the proposal.
“Staff received inquiries regarding the location and description of the land,” noted the CAO in her report. “No opposition to the proposal was received.” The CAO added she tried to make the advertising as simple and easy to understand as possible.
The CAO stated some other offers were received that were identical to the advertised one which the town declined, but it was made clear the other interested parties could offer more for the land. Apparently, no higher offers were received.
During discussion Fuller stated the parcel in question is not very large, is low-lying and was previously used by the town to store concrete.
Councillors unanimously passed a resolution to approve the sale of this lot to Bashaw Concrete for $10,000.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
