Hobby Farm Rezoning Proposal Advances Without Opposition

A proposal to rezone 15 acres of farmland for a new hobby farm faced no opposition during a public hearing at Ponoka County council chambers on Tuesday.

The application, if ultimately approved, will change the land designation from Agricultural to Country Residential, allowing for a future subdivision.

The Proposal

Jim and Jennifer McLaren have applied to rezone a 15-acre parcel located at SE 1-42-24-W4. The change would accommodate the subdivision of the property, which includes an existing farmsite with access to Highway 821.

Changing a property’s zoning is a required legal step before it can be used for a new purpose. In this case, it allows for the creation of a residential lot on land previously zoned strictly for farming.

No Public Objections

The public hearing, a formal opportunity for residents to voice support or concerns, lasted just four minutes. No residents came forward to speak for or against the project.

Ponoka County also confirmed that it received no written letters of opposition from the community.

Council Discussion Routine

The hearing was straightforward. Councillors briefly discussed standard items like road access, water availability, and whether a new residential lot would fit with the surrounding agricultural area. According to the official record, no significant concerns were raised.

Alberta Transportation was also notified of the rezoning plan and did not object.

The hearing was chaired by Deputy Reeve M. Matejka in the absence of Reeve P. McLauchlin. Councillors B. Liddle, D. Weir, and N. Hartford were also in attendance.

What's Next

With the public hearing complete, the rezoning bylaw will now return to council for a final vote at a future meeting.