A developer will not be allowed to add more homes to a proposed development near Delburne.
Red Deer County council unanimously rejected an application to amend an area structure plan to boost the number of homes in the Kerry Meadows development to 33 from 28.
Half a dozen property owners near the proposed development on 107 acres three km northwest of Delburne appealed to council to turn down the new plan, arguing it would cause traffic and could create conflicts with neighbouring farms.
“I have a lot of concerns with this,” said Dave Valentine, of Valentine Custom Farms.
The new plans puts homes close to the boundary with his farm, which could create problems if he ever has to spray for pests, something that will be inevitable at some point.
Cattle ranchers also routinely face problems caused by roaming dogs from nearby residential areas in other places, he said.
Lorne Keeping, an adjacent landowner, said the area structure plan will infringe on wetlands important for waterfowl breeding and as a stopover for migrating birds.
Bill Craig had concerns about the potential impact from 28 water and septic systems on neighbouring properties.
The county approved an area structure plan and rezoning for a 28-lot subdivision in 2008. That approval is still in place and developers can proceed with that development even if its amended plan is turned down by council.
Mayor Jim Wood said the older plan, with its lower density and walking trails, better fits the county’s approach to residential development as laid out in the municipal development plan (MDP) updated last year.
“I like the original (area structure plan) better than the one that is proposed,” he said.
Coun. Philip Massier held a similar view.
“In my mind, (the amended plan) is moving further away from our current MDP.”
pcowley@www.reddeeradvocate.com