A look at the bylaws addressed and/or passed by Cochrane town council at the meeting on Feb. 22:
Passing of this bylaw means a portion of First Avenue would be closed which will facilitate the redevelopment of the Old Town Hall site. According to a report by Drew Hyndman, senior manager of development services with the town, the bylaw was circulated to internal and external stakeholders and easement agreements were sent from the utility companies for services in the area. A request for approval of the road closure was sent to the Minister of Transportation, who signed the bylaw. A first reading and public hearing were held, at which no comments were made. Councillor Ross Watson motioned for the second reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously. Councillor Tara McFadden motioned for the third reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously.
According to a report by Kemi Apanisile, a planner for the town, the bylaw will remove the word “fence” as Permitted Use from all districts. The report explained the word in the town’s Land Use Bylaw is applied as a structure and not a use. In addition, “fence” does not comply with the definition of what a Permitted Use is, as it is neither a use of land or building. The removal of the word would ensure consistency and interpretation of Land Use Bylaw 01/2004. The Cochrane Planning Commission and Municipal Enforcement both reviewed the proposed amendment and had no comments or changes. On Jan. 8, 2016 council gave the bylaw its first reading. Watson motioned for the second reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously. McFadden motioned for the third reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously.
This bylaw will impose an amendment to the Land Use Bylaw 01/2004 in order to set standards for the design of community identification signs in the town. According to a report by Robyn Rechenmacher, a planner for the town, the bylaw supports the vision council approved for community identification signs through clear design, character, location, material, and maintenance provisions. Councillor Morgan Nagel made a motion to remove wood from the list of prohibited materials within the bylaw and to give it its second reading. The first part of his motion was defeated while the bylaw was given its second reading. Watson made a motion to give the bylaw its third reading, which was carried.
This bylaw allows the town to complete the supplementary assessments of improvements for the 2016 taxation year and levy the subsequent 2016 supplementary taxes. According to a report by Gail Butz, manager of assessment and taxation for the town, if in any year council wishes to require the preparation of supplementary assessments, council must, in the same year, pass a bylaw authorizing the assessments to be prepared for the purpose of imposing supplementary property tax. Watson motioned for the first reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously. Councillor Mary Lou Davis-Eckmeier motioned to give the bylaw its second reading, which was carried unanimously. McFadden motioned to give unanimous consent to the third and final reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously. Finally, Nagel motioned to give the bylaw its third reading, which was carried unanimously.
This bylaw would close a portion of road allowance that runs east-west along the south boundary of the River Heights Area Structure Plan area in order to further development of the Southbow Landing Neighbourhood Plan (SLNP). According to a report by Rechenmacher, this application is consistent with the approved framework of the SLNP and requires a lengthy provincial approval process. The SLNP designates the east-west road allowance to be the new location for the AltaLink Transmission Line that currently runs diagonally across most of the SLNP Area. Prior to relocating the AltaLink Transmission Line ROW, the east-west road allowance must be closed using a bylaw process that requires the support of council and the Minister of Transportation. If the bylaw is passed, the road allowance would be closed, become a fee simple property in the name of the town, and designated Urban Reserve. Watson motioned to give the bylaw its first reading, which was carried unanimously. Davis-Eckmeier motioned to hold a public hearing regarding the bylaw on Mar. 29, which was carried unanimously.
This bylaw would amend the Land Use Bylaw 01/2004 to re-designate a portion of the newly consolidated lot, 304 Grande Avenue, in order to create a consistent land use, at which time Golden Life may proceed with the Development Permit for the mixed use senior’s accommodation facility. Previously four lots, lot 304 Grande Avenue was consolidated in Fall 2015. According to a report by Rechenmacher, this bylaw would create a consistent land use designation for the lot because the existing land use designations are Central Business and Commercial – Shopping Centre Districts. Watson motioned to give the bylaw its first reading, which was carried unanimously. Davis-Eckmeier motioned to hold a public hearing regarding the bylaw on Mar. 29, which was carried unanimously.
This bylaw will allow administration to ensure fully trained and certified board members for the Assessment Review Board are not restricted to two terms on the board or the regional pool. According to a report by Jaylene Knight, legislative administrator for the town, Bylaw 12/2009 was passed by council in 2009 due to the provincial government approving Bill 23. This legislation necessitated a number of significant changes to the town’s assessment complaint process and Assessment Review Boards including mandatory training and certification provided by Municipal Affairs for board members and clerks to be updated every three years. Administration reasons this new bylaw is necessary because the board has been a difficult committee to recruit for. This bylaw will allow members to continue to be appointed for a three-year term, except with no automatic succession, and all re-appointments will remain at council's discretion. Watson motioned to give the bylaw its first reading, which was carried unanimously. Watson then motioned to give the bylaw its second reading, which was carried unanimously. McFadden motioned to give unanimous consent to the third and final reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously. Finally, Nagel motioned to give the bylaw its third reading, which was carried unanimously.
This bylaw will amend Traffic Bylaw 02/2005 to allow strategically planned and designated parking in rear lanes with a nine-metre or greater right of way in order to address parking issues in new communities. According to a report by Mac deBeaudrap, senior manager of protective services with the town, administration recognizes that many new communities are experiencing parking challenges and the amendment will provide a new tool to address these challenges when communities are being developed. All areas to which the bylaw will apply will have proper signage in place. The amendment will be discussed with the Cochrane Developers Liaison Group. Watson motioned to give the bylaw its first reading, which was carried unanimously. Davis-Eckmeier motioned to give the bylaw its second reading, which was carried unanimously. McFadden motioned to give unanimous consent to the third and final reading of the bylaw, which was carried unanimously. Finally, Nagel motioned to give the bylaw its third reading, which was carried unanimously.
