City hall believes that changing the Official Community Plan (OCP) and zoning bylaw will clear up issues around regulations that govern intensive livestock operations (ILO) and what can be built around them.
City administration has determined that the current ILO separation distances for group, multi-unit, institutional or commercial dwellings are unattainable.
M&T Feedlot at 2750 River Street West is the only ILO business in Moose Jaw and can handle more than 2,000 animals. The OCP dictates that any new dwelling must be constructed at least 4,800 metres (4.8 kilometres) away from this operation.
Furthermore, the Official Community Plan dictates the current separation distances based on whether an operation can handle more than 2,000 animals, which M&T can.
City hall wants to change the separation distance for institutional, commercial, group or multi-unit dwellings to 1,600 metres, regardless of the animals present in the ILO. However, it wants to maintain the same separation distance currently required for ILOs operating with over 2,000 animals for any new one-unit dwelling, tourist accommodation or campground at 1,200 metres.
These changes would provide clearer regulations and ensure separation distances remain but do not impede future development in the community.
While the OCP identifies Lister Feedlot and M&T Feedlot as existing ILOs in Moose Jaw, the Ministry of Agriculture has said Lister Feedlot is no longer in operations, a council report said.
The proposed amendments would remove that business from the OCP, zoning bylaw and relevant maps. The amendments would also remove Prefontaine Feedlot from the OCP maps since it is no longer in operation.
Under the Subdivision Regulations, 2014, municipalities are not allowed to approve a subdivision application for residential purposes if the land is within 300 metres of an existing ILO, the report added.
Provincial legislation does not specify separation distances for commercial or institutional use within the vicinity of an ILO. Still, municipalities can implement separation distances to mitigate land-use conflicts.
During the Nov. 8 regular council meeting, city council voted unanimously to have city administration proceed with public notice to amend separation distances for ILOs in the Official Community Plan. City administration was also authorized to amend the OCP and zoning bylaw to remove Lister Feedlot as an existing ILO, while it will amend the OCP to correct buffers and reflect the proposed ILO separation distance amendments.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Nov. 22.
