VULCAN COUNTY Vulcan County Council AGENDA Municipal Planning Commission Meeting

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1 VULCAN COUNTY Vulcan County Council AGENDA Municipal Planning Commission Meeting December 1, 2010 Council Chambers Administration Building 102 Centre Street, Vulcan, Alberta Page 1. Call to Order a) Call to order 2. Adoption of Agenda and Emergent Issues a) December 1, Adoption of Minutes a) Minutes of the November 22, 2010 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. 4. Subdivisions a) Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 5. Information Items a) Development Permit Lake McGregor Estates - Garage - SW W4, Lot 11, Block 1, Plan b) Letter - Solar Farm - SW W4 and reply from Green Foot Print Energy Inc. 6. Private Deliberations 7. Adjournment Page 1 of 23

2 VULCAN COUNTY MINUTES Municipal Planning Commission Meeting November 22, 2010 Council Chambers Administration Building 102 Centre Street, Vulcan, Alberta Present: Gordon Nelson, Chair Ian Donovan Rick Geschwendt Merle Wyatt David Schneider Doug McIntyre Derrick Annable Absent: Rod Ruark Also Present: Larry Baran, County Administrator Perry Neufeld, ORRSC Heather Ferguson, Development Officer Deb Hartung, Administrative Coordinator Call to Order Chair Nelson called the Municipal Planning Commission meeting to order at 9:04 am. Adoption of Agenda and Emergent Issues MTN MOVED BY MEMBER SCHNEIDER that the agenda is approved with the following addition: 5c) Letter from Gordon Mueller on the upcoming ERCB hearing CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Adoption of Minutes Minutes of the November 3, 2010 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. MTN MOVED BY MEMBER ANNABLE that the minutes of the November 3, 2010 meeting are adopted as presented. Page 1 of 4 #3a) - Minutes of the November 22, 2010 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. Page 2 of 23

3 Municipal Planning Commission Minutes November 22, CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Executive Session Moving into Executive Session MTN MOVED BY MEMBER GESCHWENDT that the Commission move into Executive Session at 9:06 am. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Moving into Open Session MTN MOVED BY MEMBER NELSON that the Commission move into Open Session at 9:24 am. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Development Permits Development Permit SW W4 - Four Cabins MTN Randy Haines was present to answer any questions the 40 Members had on Development Permit to establish a gas bar and four cabins on the SW W4, Lot 3, Plan MOVED BY MEMBER SCHNEIDER that Development Permit is deferred until Administration provides the applicant with a list of details and concerns that need to be answered in full before the issue comes back to the Commission. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Sky Light Hutterian Brethren - Fred Decker MTN Fred Decker from the Skylight Hutterian Brethren asked the Commission to lift the stop work order that was placed on July 7, 2010 for Development Permit , so that work could continue on the three eight-plexes on site. MOVED BY MEMBER ANNABLE that the stop work order on Development Permit for the Skylight Hutterian Brethren be lifted in order for them to complete the work on three eightplexes on the NE W4. THOSE FOR: Member Annable THOSE OPPOSED: Page 2 of 4 #3a) - Minutes of the November 22, 2010 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. Page 3 of 23

4 Municipal Planning Commission Minutes November 22, Member Wyatt Member Donovan Member Geschwendt Member McIntyre Member Nelson Member Schneider DEFEATED. Information Items Amendment to the Land Use Bylaw - Rural Recreation Land Use District MTN MOVED BY MEMBER SCHNEIDER that Administration proceed with the Rural Recreation - RR land use district for the Land Use Bylaw amendments. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Municipal Planning Commission decision on Private Deliberations MTN MOVED BY COUNCILLOR ANNABLE that the newly adopted procedure of moving into Private Deliberations in the Municipal Planning Commission meetings to discuss and make motions on the agenda items continue. THOSE FOR: Member Annable Member Donovan Member Geschwendt Member McIntyre Member Nelson Member Schneider THOSE OPPOSED: Member Wyatt CARRIED. Gordon Mueller requested that the Commission have someone attend an ERCB hearing in December. MTN MOVED BY MEMBER ANNABLE that the Chair of Municipal Planning Commission attend the ERCB-Graff-Compton-Darian- Apache Well, Pipelines and Facilities review hearing in December. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Page 3 of 4 #3a) - Minutes of the November 22, 2010 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. Page 4 of 23

5 Municipal Planning Commission Minutes November 22, Private Deliberations Chair Nelson moved the Municipal Planning Commission into Private Deliberations at 10:04 am. Adjournment Chair Nelson adjourned the Municipal Planning Commission meeting at 10:41 am. Gord Nelson, Chair Larry Baran, County Administrator Page 4 of 4 #3a) - Minutes of the November 22, 2010 Municipal Planning Commission meeting. Page 5 of 23

6 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 6 of 23

7 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 7 of 23

8 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 8 of 23

9 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 9 of 23

10 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 10 of 23

11 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 11 of 23

12 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 12 of 23

13 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 Page 13 of 23

14 #4a) - Subdivision Farmstead E1/ W4 E1/ W4 Page 14 of 23

15 #5a) - Development Permit Lake McGregor Estates - Garage - SW W4, Lot 11, Block 1, Page 15 of 23

16 #5a) - Development Permit Lake McGregor Estates - Garage - SW W4, Lot 11, Block 1, Page 16 of 23

17 #5a) - Development Permit Lake McGregor Estates - Garage - SW W4, Lot 11, Block 1, Page 17 of 23

#5a) - Development Permit 69-2010 - Lake McGregor Estates

18 #5a) - Development Permit Lake McGregor Estates - Garage - SW W4, Lot 11, Block 1, Page 18 of 23

19 #5a) - Development Permit Lake McGregor Estates - Garage - SW W4, Lot 11, Block 1, Page 19 of 23

20 To: Municipal Planning Commission - Vulcan County Re: Solar Farm SW W4 Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2010 From: Darell and Linda K. Smith NE W4 We are writing this letter in response to the development permit that has been issued for a solar farm proposal on SW W4. This proposed project is located less than one-half (½) mile west of our acreage property. We have no major objections to the project as it is proposed but we would like to receive a response about the following concerns: 1. Traffic / Speed / Dust Control After experiencing the increase in traffic, the excessive speed and dust creation that occurred when Maverick Oilfield Services set up a yard at the Industrial Airport, we are concerned with the above issues during the construction and maintenance phases of your project. a) How and who is going to ensure that dust control is looked after on the gravel road TWP RD 162 for the two existing acreages? b) How will speed of construction and maintenance vehicles be controlled and who will be responsible for this? c) How much of an increase in traffic will there be during construction and maintenance phases of this project? 2. Size of Project - Future Development The information we have gives project sizes ranging from 16 to 40 acres. How much land will this project actually need? How many solar panels will be used in this project? How high will these panels be from ground level to the top and bottom of the solar panels and what size will the panels be? Will this project be expanded in the future to include more land use and solar panel installation? 3. Property Value How will this project affect the property value of surrounding land and acreages? Will it have a negative impact on future land values? 4. Reflection Will the solar panels be motorized to track the sun s rays and will this cause a light reflection at certain times of the day? 5. Electrical Storage / Noise #5b) - Letter - Solar Farm - SW W4 and reply from Green Foot Print Energy Inc. Page 20 of 23

21 Will this solar farm involve electrical storage on site (transformer station) or does the generated power go directly into the transmission lines? Will there be any extra noise generated by this project? Will the site be securely fenced for access and safety? 6. Responsibility If there are problems or concerns that arise during the construction of, maintenance of, or future expansion of this solar farm, who will be responsible for problem resolution: Land Owner - Leo Brassard? County of Vulcan? Green Footprint Energy - Daniel Grant? Goose Creek - Rick Dunsmore? We look forward to your prompt response to our concerns. Sincerely, Darell and Linda K. Smith P.O. Box 1252 Vulcan, AB T0L 2B0 Phone #5b) - Letter - Solar Farm - SW W4 and reply from Green Foot Print Energy Inc. Page 21 of 23

22 GREEN FOOTPRINT ENERGY INC 410, TH AVENUE SW CALGARY, ALBERTA T2P 3G3 PHONE greenfootprint@shaw.ca To: Darell and Linda Smith PO Box 1252 Vulcan, Alberta T0L 2B0 Phone Copy to: Heather Ferguson, Vulcan County and Leo Brassard Dear Sir/Mrs. Smith Further to my conversation with Linda on November 23, I wish to answer your questions concerning the Solar Farm Project near your property. During the construction phase, expected to last 2 or 3 months the area will see an increase in traffic flow. The construction company is headquartered near Blackie so the bulk of the traffic can be routed to the west rather than by your residence. We will have a pre-construction meeting with all participants and will advise everyone to use the approach from the west. Dust control in front of your residence can be controlled and we will cooperate in dust abatement at our expense if it becomes an issue at the time. We will also meet with you prior to the construction to explain our detailed timeline for construction. The size of the project is 16 acres to be covered by solar panels, with room for access road to the panels and a perimeter security fence we anticipate using approximately 20 acres. Security will be accomplished with a chain link; locked perimeter fence, surveillance camera and a thermal imaging alarm system. There is room for expansion to double the size of the project in #5b) - Letter - Solar Farm - SW W4 and reply from Green Foot Print Energy Inc. Page 22 of 23

23 the future, but this will involve changes and additions to the power line. We anticipate no further expansion in the near future. We expect no adverse affect on the land values in the area, in fact it may increase the values but no one can give me a definitive answer on this question. This project adds to the economic base in the County and is a good use of land. We are raising the panels so the pasture land can still be used for grazing livestock after the construction is finished. The low side of the panels will be 2.0m above ground level and the topside of the panels will be at 5.0m above ground level. Once built there will be no noise. The power will be sold into the provincial grid with an interconnection through a transformer. All lines will be underground. The project involves no use of water and no electrical power storage. The panels are covered with tempered glass, treated to prevent reflection as we want all sunlight to be absorbed, not reflected. The panels will be on a fixed racking system. We will not be using a moveable tracking system at this site. Green Footprint Energy Inc is the General Contractor and will be responsible for all phases of this project for the life of the project. The contact person is Daniel Grant phone Same number as you were given yesterday. Goose Creek will be responsible for the construction and all sub-contractors will be controlled by Goose Creek. As we progress we will have detailed engineering drawings, construction timelines and a long term Emission Reduction Business Plan, all of which we will make available to you and any other interested parties for your review. This project is expected to give investors a reasonable rate of return. However, more than that, this projects helps Alberta to avoid burning dirty coal to produce power, it will help reduce harmful atmospheric pollutants and will make our province a better place for our children and grandchildren. Thank you for your cooperation, should you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned. Sincerely, Daniel Grant President, Green Footprint Energy Inc ORIGINAL SIGNED BY DANIEL GRANT #5b) - Letter - Solar Farm - SW W4 and reply from Green Foot Print Energy Inc. Page 23 of 23

VULCAN COUNTY Vulcan County Council AGENDA Municipal Planning Commission Meeting

VULCAN COUNTY Vulcan County Council AGENDA Municipal Planning Commission Meeting December 15, 2010 Council Chambers Administration Building 102 Centre Street, Vulcan, Alberta Page 1. Call to Order a) Call