Well we got through another spectacular Langdon Days. I am humbled every time I think about the effort of all the volunteers and sponsors that it takes to put that together. Thank you very much to everyone involved, the community and the guests that get to attend appreciate your contributions no matter how big or small. I also want to thank all the people that take part in the events for getting together to celebrate a little every once in a while. It brings a community a little closer every time I think. For me it’s a great time to get to see some old friends and meet some new people. I remember when I was a kid in Saskatchewan we used to have an annual event called Sports Days, it’s a long time ago but I still remember the great times, I hope Langdon Days creates some good memories for both young and old.
Rocky View County slows down a bit in the summer, meeting wise. Many people take their hard earned vacations but it’s business as usual for many others. A lot of the seasonal work takes place in the summer and being an agricultural County of course there is always a lot of activity happening.
Recently I had a request to bring forward changes to the Land Use or Zoning in Hanson Park. This is not a new request since the lots are quite large in that area and people want large garages. The way it works is that an area that is being developed must have a Land Use assigned to it. If none of the uses in the zoning bylaws work, a developer can ask for Direct Control Zoning or Land Use. Langdon has 4 areas like that, Hanson Park which has DC97, Boulder Creek which is DC85, Langdon West which is DC75 and Langdon Meadows which hasn’t started yet is DC151. Part of Hanson Park’s DC bylaw describes the size of garages that are allowed. A single accessory building can be no larger than 700 square feet but you can have 2 total and the total can be 969 square feet. Standard Land use parameters are generally followed in DC Zoned areas, in the case of basic residential development a DC area may use Hamlet Residential Guidelines (HR1). The bad part is that unlike HR1 Residential Zoning there is no ability to vary the bylaw without it coming to Council for a decision to change the ByLaw which can be time consuming and costly. Ordinary residential areas can go a little larger if it makes sense and the proposal is within a Development officers variance ability without having to get before Council with a full By Law change since there is an ability to appeal to the Development Appeal Board, a DC bylaw can’t since it already has been varied and is unique.
In the past people have asked me how this can be changed, I have mentioned to people that if a neighbourhood wants to change something, they should get together and let me know what it is and I will bring it forward. Well Richard and Shirley Brink took me up on it, rallied the neighbourhood, got about 40 letters of support and I brought a motion to Council to have DC97 changed to allow a single building to be allowed to be as large as the maximum that the Bylaw allows (969) sq ft. My motion has passed and there will be a public hearing in September. If there is enough support and not much opposition it will most likely go through and Hanson Park will get the change they want. Democracy at work, good for those taking part, I hope it works out for everyone concerned. Thank you Shirley and Richard for taking the effort to bring the communities desires forward, you aren’t very many steps away from your decision. I look forward to hearing any and all input at the public hearing. If any of you have the time and are affected please take part, if not, at least write down your opinion and submit it to be part of the information that Council considers, it is important for Council to get a good understanding of how the residents feel about something before them, that is how good decisions get made.
