Amendment for Birds of Prey shelter

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Sunny South News

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

A recent approval means some development on the Coaldale Birds of Prey lands can go forward this spring.

During their regular April 11 meeting, Coaldale town council discussed the location of a new picnic shelter at the Coaldale Birds of Prey Facility.

A late addition to the agenda, the item concerned an amendment to a development permit.

Cameron Mills, director of growth and investment for the Town, said that last year council had approved the rezoning of the BOP land to Direct Control (DC), and approved a development permit for the education centre there. Part of that included an accessory building, or a picnic shelter. Mills said they did not have any drawings of the picnic shelter at that time.

“Long story short, the Birds of Prey would like to move that picnic shelter somewhat from what it was originally proposed,” said Mills, adding that because the land is zoned DC, and the new location of the shelter crosses a property line of the lands that make up the Birds of Prey facility, council approval of the revision is needed.

The new location of the shelter sits on the property line going through the facility’s land. While Birds of Prey does occupy the entire space, Mills said they are “not terribly important property lines, but property lines nonetheless”.

Based on images provided to council, showing the layout of the structure, one corner of the shelter will cross the property line. Mayor Jack Van Rijn said the reason for that was they had put in a cement pad where it was originally supposed to go, and one corner was too close to the edge of the water for their liking. The picnic shelter had been a last-minute addition to the development permit application, but when they staked it where they originally were going to put it, it was too close to the water.

When asked if the picnic shelter location meant it would be included during renegotiations for the Bird of Prey land’s lease, Mills said it could potentially be a big deal legally speaking, but as the town owns both properties, it wasn’t something he was terribly concerned about.

Once council approves the amended location of the picnic shelter, work can start in the spring.

Council unanimously passed a motion that council add the following two conditions to the development permit 20221-113: first, that the accessory structure picnic shelter shall be constructed and located in accordance to plans provided by Alvin Fritz Architects Inc., as part of the development permit application received by the town on April 4, 2023; and second, that the fence be replaced to the satisfaction of the designated officer.