City council has approved two bylaw amendments that deal with Viterra Inc.’s grain terminal upgrade project and zoning changes to land in Wakamow Valley.
Council gave three unanimous readings to both bylaws during its Aug. 14 regular meeting. Since there was no dissent, the amendments went into effect immediately.
Viterra upgrade project
The new loop will bisect Britannia Road near 24th and 28th avenues, so Viterra will install two lockable gates with flashing lights near those entrances when loading train cars.
The company estimates each road closure will last 24 to 36 hours and occur 25 to 40 times a year. It will need a street closure permit from city hall each time, while it will install detour signage and inform area residents beforehand.
Council passed an amended street and lane closure bylaw on April 24 to facilitate the subdivision, sale and consolidation of the affected streets and intersections, a council report explained.
The company hired a land surveyor to undertake the subdivision process and began registering the consolidation plan with Information Services Corporation (ISC), which created new extension numbers for each affected street and lane, the report continued.
ISC rejected the consolidation plan because the city’s previous bylaw change referenced the old extension numbers, which meant an updated bylaw amendment to the previous bylaw amendment was required so ISC would accept the newly created extension numbers.
Wakamow Valley parcel
A parcel of land in Wakamow Valley being used to produce hay has been rezoned so it falls within one zoning category instead of several different ones and ensures its agricultural use can continue.
Previously, the 5.80-hectare (14.35-acre) parcel was zoned RVCs1 River Valley Conservation and slump hazard overlay district and RVCf1 River Valley Conservation District and flood fringe overlay.
The new zoning is to UHs1 Urban Holding District and slump hazard overlay and Uhf1 Urban Holding District and flood fringe overlay.
The chunk of land has no buildings or services but has a farm lane easement, while the municipality taxes the land at commercial/industrial rates.
A council report noted city hall received no written responses from residents or area landowners about this change.
However, during the Aug. 14 meeting, Coun. Crystal Froese said she spoke with Wakamow Valley Authority (WVA) — she is council’s rep on that board — and was reminded that the organization manages land conservation in the river valley.
She wondered what the differences were between the land in this bylaw change and WVA’s conservation efforts and whether consultations with WVA about the affected property would continue.
Organization director Donna MacQuarrie-Bye called city hall about this issue and the planning and development department clarified the bylaw change’s intent, said Michelle Sanson, department director. This land was subdivided off the former Valley View Centre site, with one part sold to WVA and another to an area landowner.
“The river valley conservation would not be part of this property … ,” she continued. “They will still be notified if there’s any change in the zoning because they are (a group) in that area. Any changes in the future — because they are adjacent to that property — would be advised in advance.”
That’s good news, said Froese, considering the authority failed to receive a timely consultation notice, which is why she encouraged MacQuarrie-Bye to phone city hall.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Aug. 24.
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