Red Deer County council has agreed on a new fee bylaw for 2011 that will affect planning and development, operational services and utility fees.Benalto, Springbrook and Spruce View residents will see a three per cent increase in water, sewer and garbage rates come into effect in May. The increase is meant to cover the cost of inflation.Other fees going up include a $50 increase for dust suppression to $875 and the additional fee per lineal metre to $14 to reflect the increased cost of services.Transfer station fees will drop from $7 to $5 to ìencourage people to bring in small bundles of waste into the transfer station,î explained administration during last Tuesday's council meeting.Fees associated with fire, land management and administrative services will remain the same.In other business, plans for a subdivision within the Benalto Area Redevelopment Plan were put on hold after being approved in January 2010.Unforeseen circumstances, particularly the economic instability within the past year, were the reasons given for why the 4.3 hectares of land, meant to be subdivided into 15 lots in the ìRailway Landsî of the hamlet, had not started.The land is meant to provide commercial and retail use as well as office space.Requirements restrict buildings from being higher than 3.5 metres to preserve the views and a green space for future development of a recreational area is required.Council granted a one-year time extension for the subdivision.
