Land use bylaws...again!

[cakadu]

Emrald - I am quite impressed by your knowledge of land use policies etc. Is it something that you've worked with or just taken a great interest in?

I've learned from your posts and hope to keep learning.

Thanks for your contributions!!

[cakadu]

Linda, I have been involved in land use planning issues for many years and continue to take a keen interest in it. I have seen first hand the issues that arise when conflicting land uses are encouraged in municipalities. Conflicting uses don't seem to be as much an issue when they don't involve livestock operations !!!

[cakadu]

Emrald, in your opinion, what would some of the key issues/concerns be when it comes to this whole issue of land use? What should one be aware of? As you are probably well aware, we have huge concerns and issues that are cropping up and will continue to crop up here in Red Deer county.

Are there any particular documents, legislation etc. that one could become more familiar with in order to better deal with the issues?

Over both the short and long-term, the whole issue of land use is going to become increasingly important and complex.

[cakadu]

Linda within your own jurisdiction I am sure you are familiar with the Municipal Development Plan and Land Use By-Law. You could contact Municipal Affairs and request a copy of the Provincial Land Use Policies. They are a GUIDELINE for municipalities to deal with land use, but they are not mandatory, and there is no actual checking done to see if municipalities adhere to these policies. Many pieces of legislation come into play when municipalities develop their statuatory planning documents. They must address environmental issues, airport vicinity issues, and regarding the confined feeding industry they must address the Agricultural Operations Practices Act legislation. Recommendations were made to the Province by the Land Use Core Action Team which stemmed out of the Ag Summit process. These recommendations are available on the Ag Summit website, which should still be linked to AAFRD's website.
One group that is a wealth of information on land use issues is Action for Agriculture. They hold monthly meetings in Airdrie and anyone can join their group.

[cowman]

Sure seems to be a lot of beuracracy to decide how the government will infringe on our property rights? Oh I forgot, in Canada we don't have any property rights!
I wonder how long it will take until the ballooning beuracracy destroys this country? My neighbor was just the other day telling me about the nightmare you have to go through to expand a hog barn! Fewer and fewer people are even trying! Foolish government rules and regulations are driving people out of business.
Personally I refuse to hire any employees because of all the government BS. Much easier to go with a private contract agreement than jump through all the garbage(and expense) from the government.

[cowman]

Cowman, expansion of hogbarns and feedlots etc. come under the Agricultural Operations Practices Act legislation which came into effect January 1/02. This legislation is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Board. Municipalities previously approved these facilities within their jurisdictions, and the result was that the industry was operating under approximately 68 different sets of rules depending on where they were located.
Some municipalities did a super job of regulating these operations, while others placed numerous conditions on them when they applied for a development permit and never followed up on these conditions.
The AOPA legislation places all applicants on a level playing field with one set of regulations and standards for the expansion of the industry.