The County of Stettler Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) approved the subdivision of a residence from the remainder of the quarter’s farmland. The resolution was passed at the Feb. 28 regular MPC board meeting.
The MPC is comprised of members of county council and is chaired by Coun. James Nibourg.
Board members heard a presentation from Manager of Planning and Development Craig Teal regarding Gary and Jeanette Konschuh’s application to have a roughly nine-acre parcel subdivided from the remainder of NW 5-40-17 W4M with the intention of creating a new parcel.
“The subject property is located 13.31 km northwest of the Hamlet of Gadsby,” stated the application prepared by Parkland Community Planning Services (PCPS). “The terrain of the property can be described as flat cropland with some treed areas.
“The proposed 9.01 acre parcel contains an existing dwelling with an attached garage, a shed shop and grain bins. An open discharge system exists on the proposed parcel. The remainder of the NW 5 is used as cropland. There are no abandoned wells on the subject property.”
It was noted in the report the land in question isn’t part of any intermunicipal development plan (IDP) and the application meets all requirements of the County of Stettler’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB) and Municipal Development Plan (MDP).
“The proposed parcel contains an existing open discharge system,” stated the PCPS report. “The parcel size and shape allow for sufficient space to meet the setback and separation distances of the Private Sewage Disposal Systems Regulation (Alberta Regulation 229/1997) and the Alberta Private Sewage Systems Standard of Practice.”
During his presentation Teal noted the intention of this subdivision is to separate the farmstead as a first parcel out.
He noted the application is quite straightforward, the only sticking point being access: the existing access wouldn’t be part of the newly created nine-acre parcel. Teal stated the applicants, who currently own all the property involved, wish to continue using the access as-is and in the future if one of the parcels is sold, a new access may be developed. It was noted there appears to be enough room to build a new access.
Teal suggested an access easement be included on the property.
As the subdivision application was discussed, board member Nibourg noted the quarter section was described as about 159 acres, rather than the standard 160. Nibourg asked where the other acre went.
Teal responded many quarter sections don’t exactly add up to 160, noting in this case a road allowance was likely the culprit.
Reeve Larry Clarke asked about grain bins lined up along the proposed eastern boundary of the new parcel, with the overhead map showing the bins sitting virtually on the property line; he asked whether this wasn’t considered an important detail as the grain bins can be fairly easily moved.
County of Stettler planning staff responded that as ancillary buildings, they only have to meet a setback of three feet, which they do.
Board members unanimously approved the subdivision application as it was presented.
Stu Salkeld
Local Journalism Initiative reporter
ECA Review
