MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Mountain View County's municipal planning commission (MPC) has denied a development permit request for the installation of two yurts on a property outside Olds.
Yurts are round, compact and temporary structures approximately 800 square feet and used for sleeping and other accommodation.
The application for a proposed business, agri-tourism - yurts for overnight accommodation came before the commission during its recent, regularly-scheduled meeting.
The property involved is located in the Netook rural neighbourhood in Division 7, at SE 36-32-2-5, on the west side of Range Road 20 about one kilometre south of Highway 27.
Business, agri-tourism is a discretionary use with the agricultural district. It must be complimentary to the existing principle agricultural use and be compatible with the agricultural character of the area.
“The applicant is proposing to place two yurts in the northwest corner of the subject parcel that would be rented out as short-term accommodations,” administration said in a briefing note to the commission.
“These yurts area approximately 800 square feet in size, occupied seasonally from May to October and the renting of them will be managed by the landowners, who lives on the site.”
The applicant incited that “many of the traditional agri-tourism venues in the county do not offer accommodation so this would become the home base for those who wish to explore the agricultural attractions in the county as they would actively promote these industries to their guests.”
The commission received several letters of concern from nearby residents.
In one letter, the writer said the proposed tourism business “will infringe on our farm business and impact the cattle we pasture on our land (adjacent to) with the likelihood more traffic on the access road.
“We feel this would set an unacceptable precedent for the future (and) we trust the council will agree this tourism business does not suit this property and is inappropriate at this location.”
Administration recommended rejecting the application, saying in the briefing note that, “Although the parcel is designed as agricultural, there are not agricultural-related activities currently being conducted on the property that complement the existing primary use as required in the definition of business, agri-tourism, therefore the current zoning cannot accommodate the proposal.”
Jennifer Lutz, commission member and county councillor, said, “When I think of agri-tourism, to me (the application) just doesn’t fit the definition of agri-tourism and the size of land doesn’t really support this operation.”
Peggy Johnson, commission member and county councillor, said, “I think that council works really hard and spends a lot of time carefully wording the municipal development plan and the land use bylaw and in doing that we take lots of things into consideration, including our relationship with the Town of Olds and how any potential land use can affect the neighbours.
“Although the property is fenced, I think those are the things that are taken into consideration in this recommendation (to reduce application).”
The commission voted in favour of refusing the development permit application.
The county’s approving authority, the MPC is made up of county councillors and appointed public members.
