Rocky View councillors unanimously approved a Bearspaw infill-subdivision application, June 14.
The four-acre parcel, located 5.6 kilometres northwest of Calgary, will be divided in two to create room for another house.
“This property is well screened… the majority of the community has (supported it),” said area Councillor Al Sacuta.
“I don’t think there are any technical issues that would prevent us from going to an Residential One (zoning).”
The parcel gets its water from the Rocky View Water Co-op and sewer will be managed by a private septic treatment system. There are no wetlands on the property, which is relatively flat. There are existing trees, which applicant John Sostar said will help lessen the impact for neighbours.
Access will be from an existing panhandle driveway off Township Road 262.
The land is located in the Bearspaw Area Structure Plan policy area, which indicates the lands are suitable for acreage development.
The document also states that proposed developments less than four acres in size should be supported by a conceptual scheme (CS). However, council rescinded the need for a CS last February.
That issue, along with questions about the suitability of the resulting two-acre lots, created some concern.
“We feel strongly against this subdivision,” said neighbour Ali Algebori.
“The whole area is four-acre parcels and more… there is nothing, to my knowledge, two acres or less. We are the immediate neighbours… and we feel it isn’t fair.”
County staff received seven letters in opposition to the development, while Sostar produced nine letters in favour of his application.
Sostar said his ultimate goal is to purchase the four-acre plot directly south of his land and combine it with the existing two two-acre lots to create two four-acre lots.
