RM Dufferin Municipal Office
McGill takes on the Division, which includes the embattled area of Highwood Beach. McGill is not a Highwood Beach resident, which may prove beneficial to his representation of his Division.
There was some question as Council reviewed the accounts for approval around the ordering of three iPads covers after three iPads, and the RM had already paid three covers for in October. Chief Administrative Officer, Rodney Audette, explained they did it in error, and they would have extra.
RM Development *
The Reeve informed Council that he asked the CAO to separate Planning and Development from the Administrative Report because they have lots of planning and development issues requiring it to be its own report.
Highwood Beach Drainage
The CAO contacted the Yorkton Water Security Agency (WSA) regarding Brent Smith’s development at Highwood Beach. The issue arose after Wayne Bell presented to Council as a delegation on water drainage issues he said he was having due to Smith’s development above his property. At the delegation, he informed Council the RM had installed a drainage line into his system without his permission. In December, the RM uninstalled the line.
The WSA confirmed the lands were not agricultural and were exempt from the standard permitting provisions regarding drainage. The CAO relayed if the water is not being redirected to a different natural water flow area and not obstructing natural water flow, permits are not required, nor would it need to be reviewed by them. The CAO said the land use by Smith was permitted, and if the zoning bylaw addresses landscaping, then that is an area of jurisdiction. The CAO said the zoning bylaw does not have any restrictions regarding landscaping. The site is in the developable area in a commissioned geotechnical report with the area already having water flow to natural waterways with no alterations occurring. He added the laneway would also not need WSA approval.
Buffalo Vista/Daniel Drive/Northshore Lands
The CAO reported that Buffalo Vista’s developer had forwarded his concerns regarding the timing of the potential connection and location of Daniel Drive to the North Shore land development. The CAO said he reminded Northshore and advised Buffalo Vista that as soon as the Council had something to review the RM would inform him of the review.
RM meetings are open to the public and are being conducted over Zoom. You can view or listen to the proceedings over your electronic device or via telephone. Contact the office for the invitation. The next meeting of Council is on March 10th at 8 am.
*LMT reports on only a few of the development items that arise at the Dufferin meeting.
See more from this meeting Here
Jennifer Argue, Civic Reporter, LMT - LJi
Note: These reports are abridged for content