About 100 people attended a joint public hearing on Wednesday evening at Medicine Hat College regarding general development planning agreement between the City of Medicine Hat, Town of Redcliff and Cypress County.--News Photo Collin Gallant
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Members of racing and shooting groups located in north Medicine Hat are again objecting to land-planning changes they say will threaten their facilities near a proposed industrial development zone.
That’s even as planning officials say there is no immediate requirement to change operations, or eventual plan to clear land.
The matter arose as city council held a joint public hearing with Redcliff town and Cypress County councils on Wednesday into a new Tri-area inter-municipal development agreement.
It aligns land used along the three municipalities boundaries, and would further a plan to designate land north of Redcliff as a joint-planning area meant to attract major industrial investment proposals.
But members of the Medicine Hat Speedway, Rifle and Revolver Club and Drag Strip told the hearing that it puts their operations at risk, should the nearby land be needed, or be moved off leased parcels if plant construction proceeds.
“Our last count is 2,400 members and that’s 4,800 votes,” said former Rifle and Revolver Club past president Paul Keating, who suggested zoning the area as a recreation zone, rather than a buffer zone for potential industrial use.
“We’ve said (in the past) support us our else. And we’re not afraid to do it again,” he concluded.
Following the 90-minute hearing at Medicine Hat College, the plan must be passed separately by all three councils at a meeting scheduled for March.
It would change portions to allow more acreage development on land directly south of the city, create an agri-industrial area near Highway 3, and accommodate realignment of the highway when it is twinned.
City planning manager John Popoff told the meeting that there is no immediate change for existing properties, and in-place operations – such as the clubs – though large expansions or change of use could be denied.
“They’ll continue to operate legally,” he said, describing the joint-planning zone as a “baby step” toward earning designation as a pre-approved industrial area further west.
“We’ve collaborated as a region and we want to advertise that we have industrial land available, which traditionally is a strong point in the region.”
Mayor Linnsie Clark appeared to agree while providing an explanation to club representatives.
“The IDP doesn’t change the area structure plan,” said Clark.
One new proposal would enlarge a demarcated “heavy industrial” joint-planning area on the north boundaries of Medicine Hat and Redcliff. Changes would extend heavy industrial use to adjacent areas inside the city and town’s limits, nearer to clubs in the Box Springs area.
The issue of the club leases arose three years ago when council approved a “Northwest Industrial Park” structure plan four six quarter-sections. They have been in the city’s land portfolio since annexed in the 1980s, but were also leased to clubs in the 1990s when industrial proposals did not develop.
Now, Rifle and Revolver club president Randy Adam said the IDP amendments puts the issue back in the spotlight.
“We’ve gone through this with the NW industrial structure plan,” he said, noting the cost of relocating would “require financial assistance” of the city, though other club members consider it cost prohibitive.
“When will rec clubs matter to the city – there’s five of us all out there in an areas zoned as heavy industrial?”
That group is considering “millions” of dollars of improvements, but needs assurance it can continue to access its facility as well as keep vacant hay land north of it empty as a safety measure.
Medicine Hat Speedway supporter Karina Kaye said the group has operated for decades, but is now “living on pins and needles.”
“If someone needs the land we’re no longer allowed to be there? If someone comes in, are we given 90-day’s notice?” she said. “I don’t think it’s fair.”
Popoff said the city, county and town included a joint area industrial zone as a nod to collaboration and investment attraction, which still could be years away.
“I don’t want to shut anyone down,” he said. “We see this an infant designated industrial zone, to harmonize permitting in order to enable industrial development that’s interested in coming to the region, to happen a little be sooner.
Members of the Grasslands Naturalists spoke in support of the IDP plan as proposed, while land developer Curtis Presber, of Meadowlands Development, said the plan is generally positive in terms of residential development, but existing subdivision plans should be observed.
