Red Deer County is considering bylaw amendments to outline when environmental reviews are required in environmentally significant areas.
Under proposed Land Use Bylaw additions, a full environmental review is required when developments require rezoning or an area structure plan, or gravel or sand removal or processing is involved.
Basic environmental reviews may be required in other cases as determined by the county.
Environmental reviews will not be required for homes, accessory buildings, home-based businesses or additions to homes or accessory buildings.
The county undertook an inventory of its environmentally significant areas in 2011 and it was part of a municipal development plan passed last December.
Council gave first reading to the amendments on Tuesday. A public hearing is set for May 7.
The identification of environmentally significant areas does not prevent development, but it ensures that the environment is considered as part of the approval process, said Mayor Jim Wood.
The proposed changes further clarify the process.