Rocky View County (RVC) council gave its support to a Beiseker-area solar farm by approving an associated land redesignation.
The decision came during an afternoon public hearing Feb. 25, where planner Jessica Anderson told council the farm proposed on the south side of Highway 72 and on the east side of Range Road 263 would include 17,000 panels in a ground-mounted racking style.
“The site is to be retained as an agricultural zoning, as the land may continue to be used as a means of agricultural production and is proposed to return to its pre-existing state at the end of its operating cycle,” she said.
The application was approved unanimously, with Couns. Mark Kamachi and Jerry Gautreau absent from the vote.
“I welcome these types of businesses that keep ranch and farm [land as] ranch and farm,” said Reeve Greg Boehlke, who gave up the chair to act as the area councillor. “It’s nice to know if it disappears, the lands will be easily transformed back to its original use, and in the meantime, it’s producing power, which we’re looking for.”
Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
