County of Wetaskiwin council gave approval at the Planning and Development meeting July 17 for new zoning surrounding Edmonton International Raceway.
The issue was presented by Director of Planning and Development David Blades; Blades stated in his report, “At the October 10, 2014 Council for Planning and Economic Development meeting, Council provided three readings of By-law 2014/40 to rezone approximately eleven (11) acres (4.5 hectares) from Agricultural (AG) to Direct Control (DC) within NW 20-46-24-W4M for Horizon Motorsports Ltd.”
Blades said, in a nutshell, the DCD ensures the county knows about certain changes or activities at Edmonton International Raceway. “Under Direct Control (DC) zoning, Council regulates and controls the use or development of land or buildings in the district as they see fit,” stated Blades. “Council may issue a development permit or may delegate the responsibility to the Development Officer to exercise pursuant to the directions of Council. A Direct Control (DC) district is intended to limit the potential of any other type of use being introduced in the future on the property without the direct approval of Council.”
The report stated, “The property is located south on Township Road 464 and 0.36 miles east of Range Road 245 and is surrounded by properties districted Agricultural (AG), Rural Residential (RR), or Country Residential (CR). A Country Residential (CR) Subdivision called Peace Hills Heights subdivision is about 0.37 miles away. The redistricting to Direct Control (DC) was the initial requirement through which the applicant intended to bring the existing Racetrack business into compliance with the Land Use Bylaw.”
Blades noted county staff recommended approving the DCD with a number of conditions, including all drainage
must drain towards a county ditch, public utility lot, or reserve lot.
No drainage shall impact adjacent lots, No
advertising or signs on the structures without prior consent of the County of Wetaskiwin’s Development Authority and the site shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner to the satisfaction of the Development Officer, plus a number of other conditions.
Councilor Terry Van de Kraats noted communication between the county and Horizon Motorsports has improved greatly.
Councilors unanimously approved the DCD application from Horizon Motorsports.
Stu.salkeld@pipestoneflyer.ca