A proposed Joseph Lake area structure plan (ASP), in an area with subdivision potential, was defeated by Leduc County council in a 5-2 vote at its Nov. 22 meeting.
Mayor John Whaley says councillors debated for two hours on the matter.
“There was a lot of questions after the presentation, a lot of them to do with the water table, oil wells on the site, setbacks,” said Whaley, in an interview with the Pipestone Flyer.
The ASP proposed a subdivision. “Put 25 houses there, what would that do to everyone else in the area?” Whaley said.
While he says the red flags could possibly be mitigated, what council had to decide is the best course of action for the area and those who already live there. “Was this a good use of land?”
A number of speakers addressed council during the public hearing and Whaley says many were not in favour of the ASP or a subdivision.
Previous landowner comments include concerns about population and traffic increases, impacts on roads, landfills and maintenance, access to drinking water and the effect on existing access to water, sewage disposal as well as the potential for water and sewage trucks on the road, fragmentation of agricultural land and environmental impacts.
Alberta Health Services had no objections to the ASP but mentioned a number of points to be addressed before it would make comments regarding a subdivision.
The recommendation made to council by staff was to approve first, second and third reading of the ASP.
Beaumont annexation
Leduc County is losing 21 quarter sections of county land in an annexation to the Town of Beaumont, effective Jan. 1, 2017.
The decision was approved Nov. 22 by the Government of Alberta, by way of an Order in Council.
“While this annexation has minimal growth and financial implications to Leduc County we are disappointed in the outcome. We believe a greater emphasis should have been placed on municipal collaboration and the principals of annexation,” said Leduc County mayor John Whaley in a press release, released Nov. 23.
Those looking to learn more about the annexation process can visit Leduc-county.com/annexation.