Lethbridge County council meeting highlights: Data-driven insights

Posted on December 31, 2024 by Sunny South News

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Lethbridge County’s council met early in December and at this meeting, two subdivision applications were discussed.

The Alberta Beef Corporation has submitted Subdivision Application #2024-0-128 to reconfigure an existing 58.18-acre parcel into a smaller 36.47-acre lot designated for agricultural use. The proposal adheres to the criteria outlined in the County’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB No. 24-007) and aligns with policies for boundary realignment and reconfiguration without increasing the number of titles.

Located about four miles north of Eight Mile Lake and near the Oldman River, this subdivision aims to adjust boundaries to better separate lands by use and character. Specifically, 25.45 acres will be removed from the original parcel and consolidated with 97.95 acres of adjacent land. The reconfigured parcel includes a hay shed and dugout, along with an irrigated hay crop supported by a small pivot. The adjustment will also address an encroachment issue, as the existing property line runs through the hay shed. The larger tract contains areas of coulee and cropland with a larger pivot system.

Access to both properties will remain unchanged from the west municipal road, and there are no plans for servicing these parcels as they will remain strictly agricultural. Although the land holds a historic resource value, Alberta Culture has exempted it from requiring approval under the Historical Resources Act. External agencies raised no concerns, and no utility easements are being requested.

The second application, 2024-0-129, was for MS Maclean Livestock proposing to consolidate an existing 4.56-acre farmyard title back into the NW quarter section and, in return, subdivide a 6.22-acre vacant parcel for country residential purposes. This application requires a size waiver as the Land Use Bylaw (LUB No. 24-007) limits vacant parcels to a maximum of 3.00 acres. Despite the proposed parcel exceeding this limit, the recommendation is for approval, with conditions and the necessary waiver granted.

The property is located approximately five miles north of Coaldale and west of Highway 845. The land swap aims to create a new title by combining land from the less productive dry corners of the NW and NE portions of the 9-10-20-W4M sections. The subdivided parcel will include 3.04 acres from the northwest and 3.18 acres from the northeast portions, bypassing irrigation pivot tracks. The applicant plans to provide water through a private well and manage sewage with an on-site septic field system.

There are no historical resources, abandoned gas wells, or confined feeding operations in the vicinity. However, there may have been a historic irrigation canal near the proposed subdivision, though its existence remains unverified. External agencies raised no issues, apart from ATCO Gas requesting a utility easement. One nearby landowner, who owns a 5.03-acre subdivision in the SE portion, objected to the parcel size and expressed concern about the number of subdivisions in the adjacent quarter.

The subdivision aligns with the general intent of the County’s land-use policies, as it involves a meaningful land swap, maintaining overall titles while allowing for reconfiguration to better utilize the property. 

Delegates to the council meeting included a resource that is absolutely vital to rural Alberta – STARS. 

With the tagline of “Critical Care, Anywhere – The best hope, in a worst case scenario,” the air ambulance organization’s presentation showed a year in review: 37,365 emergency requests were handled (102 average per day); more than 60K missions have taken place since 1985; it costs approximately $11.4 million to run each base annually and in addition to government contributions, this cost is supported by 37,345 donors. Ten new rural municipalities joined the organization in 2024. 

STARS has expanded its medical capabilities by introducing a blood product designed to aid in clot formation and manage hemorrhages effectively. The aircraft is now equipped with four units of blood on board.

Lethbridge County averages one STARS mission per week and the Lethbridge Hospital is the top three served by STARS in all of Alberta.

Also on the agenda was the 2024 Hamlet of Monarch Growth Study Review, which evaluates current development trends and conditions in Monarch, comparing them to the findings of the original 2018 growth study. Population levels in Monarch have remained stable, likely mirroring the 2016 census. Existing utility infrastructure for water and sewer is adequate for the foreseeable future and does not require adjustments. Development has increased since 2021, primarily for residential and accessory projects. 

No changes have occurred in commercial or industrial development due to limited population growth. Monarch’s growth is sustained through infill opportunities with existing vacant lots and new subdivisions, removing the need to expand the hamlet’s boundaries, currently. Assessments confirm that Monarch’s services and infrastructure meet the needs and expectations identified by the community in the Resident Engagement Survey.

The next council meeting will take place on December 19.