Mountain View County council has approved three applications to rezone fragmented parcels within the Deer Springs quarter section southeast of Winchell Lake.The approval creates three separate titles ñ a 41.6-acre Agriculture-2 parcel, an 11.4-acre Country Residential parcel and a 1.5-acre Parks and Recreation parcel ñ on lands fragmented by county roads that bisect the virtually undeveloped, environmentally significant quarter on the Rocky View County boundary.A single application incorporating all three parcels had been refused earlier this year in a tie vote after some councillors expressed concerns about the reduced setbacks for the proposed 1.5-acre lot, wedged between two county road allowances ñ township roads 290D and 290E.The original application would have redesignated the smaller lot to CR-1, but planner Christian Tinney told council at the Sept. 28 public hearing that the PR zoning was more fitting, as it will ensure the existing cabin on the site will remain seasonal.The department also recommended placing a restrictive covenant on the 1.5-acre lot and council passed a motion to make it the guiding document for any future uses on the rezoned parcel.ìThe intent of the restrictive covenant is to recognize development on the site and say ëno more',î interim planning director John Rusling said.The county received eight letters of support from seven adjacent landowners and three letters of objection. Applicant Keren Farquharson asked why the letters of support had not been included in the council package and staff explained that the omission had been an oversight.Council approval was not unanimous. Both Div. 4 Coun. Bruce Beattie and Div. 7 Coun. Al Kemmere voted against rezoning the 11.4-acre parcel to CR.Beattie cited the impact on wildlife and said the country-residential designation was not appropriate for the environmentally significant area, while Kemmere noted the parcel is situated within a major drainage basin for Winchell Lake and expressed concerns about the land's suitability for a septic system.Reeve Paddy Munro responded that only one building site will be allowed on the parcel, which will be reduced in size to allow for environmental reserve.ìWe're not asking for a multi-lot ñ we just have to give guidance to MPC on the quality of the building site,î Munro said.Followup motions with directions to the Municipal Planning Commission were also approved.Asked whether she planned to sell the newly created lots, Farquharson said she couldn't guarantee what would happen in the future, but added: ìMy intent today is not to sell any of these particular parcels.î
