Proposed Land Use Bylaw Amendments
- Council postponed consideration of Bylaw 1605/22 until February 28, 2023. The bylaw is in response to a request to redistrict a 5.13 acre parcel between Richfield Estates and Green Acres from Agriculture to Country Residential. If approved, the applicant proposes to subdivide the parcel into two lots for residential development. The bylaw received first reading in December 2022 and was subject to a public hearing held on January 24, 2023.
- Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1620/23 – Amendment to Land Use Bylaw 1385/17, which proposes to establish a new R7 – Transitional Valley Residential District in the Sturgeon Valley Area Structure Plan. The proposed R7 district would allow for greater flexibility in adapting to changing market conditions. Details on the public hearing will be posted on the Public Notices page on our website.
- Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1615/23, which proposes to redistrict a portion of NE-5-55-24-W4M from Agriculture District to the new Agriculture 2 District. The redistricting is necessary before the applicant can submit an application to establish an event venue. This is the first application for redistricting under the recently-passed Diversified Agriculture Bylaw. A public hearing will be scheduled for Council to hear from the applicant and the community before considering the request further.
- Bylaw 1606/22, which proposed to redistrict a portion of Lot 3, Block 1, Plan 0324168 from AG – Agriculture District to INS – Institutional District, was defeated at second reading due to lack of community support for the application as noted during the January 24, 2023, public hearing. The applicant proposed to redistrict the lands in order to relocate a church to the site from St. Albert.
Public Hearings for Resource Extraction
Public hearings have been scheduled for Bylaw 1607/22 – Resource Extraction Amendments to Land Use Bylaw 1385/17 and Bylaw 1608/22 – Repeal of the Calahoo-Villeneuve Sand and Gravel Extraction Area Structure Plan Bylaw 922/01. More details on these bylaws can be found on the Resource Extraction Regulatory Review webpage. The Public hearings will take place on March 15, 2023, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Contract Awards
- Council awarded the 2023-2026 Safety Code Services Contract to Superior Safety Codes Inc. in accordance with the terms of their proposal. During discussion, Council and Administration noted the growing need for qualified safety codes inspectors and encouraged people to learn more about safety codes as a career option.
- Sturgeon County will be renewing the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement for a three-year term at an estimated cost of $285,000 per year based on current staff levels.
Staffing Update
Council allocated resourcing for municipal enforcement using funding previously approved in the 2023 operating budget to establish part-time positions for a Development Compliance Officer and an Animal Control Officer.
New Trail Construction
A new trail will be constructed connecting the north side of Township Road 542/Valour Avenue and both sides of the Highway 28 overpass bridge thanks to a funding agreement between Sturgeon County and the Minister of National Defence on behalf of CFB Edmonton. View the map of the proposed new trail.
Finance
Council passed Bylaw 1612-22, which amends the terms of borrowing for indebtedness within Bylaws 1530/21, 1573/22, 1574/22, 1575/22, 1576/22, 1577/22, 1578/22, 1579/22 and 1602/22. The amendment was required following the Province of Alberta’s decision to dissolve the Alberta Capital Finance Authority, which had offered lending rates below market value to municipalities.
Board and Committee Appointments
Council approved the appointment of public members to fill vacancies on the Agricultural Service Board, the Youth Advisory Committee, and the River Valley Alliance Community Engagement Committee. Recruitment for vacancies on the County’s board and committees started last fall but was extended into 2023. Council noted the important role of the public on these committees and encouraged people to put their name forward for consideration.
Public Notification Bylaw
Council gave first reading of Bylaw 1618/23, which is a proposed new Public Notification Bylaw. The Bylaw outlines how the County proposes to meet its legislated public notification requirements as set out in the Municipal Government Act. Bylaw. A public hearing will be scheduled, providing the opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed bylaw.  Details on the public hearing will be posted on the Public Notices page on our website.
Fast facts about land use bylaw amendments and public hearings:
- At Sturgeon County, before Council seeks public feedback on a proposed land use bylaw amendment, Council gives first reading of the proposed bylaw. This does not mean Council supports the bylaw, but that Council is agreeing for the proposed bylaw to proceed to the next stage of the bylaw process, being receipt of public feedback.
- Public hearings are open to any members of the public, but in considering feedback, Council must consider how and the degree to which the person making a written submission or speaking at a public hearing is affected by the proposal.
- Anyone wishing to provide comments on a proposed bylaw can submit them in writing in advance, attend the Council Meeting in person, or participate virtually.
- For more details and to register for a public hearing, call Legislative Services at 780-939-8277.
- Public hearings, along with other public notices, are posted on the Public Notices page on our website.
Next Council Meeting
The next Sturgeon County Council meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. on February 28, 2023.
Future agendas and past meeting minutes can be found online.
