Notice of Public Hearing: Bylaw No. 21/003 - Land Use Bylaw

NOTICE is hereby given that the Council of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo has scheduled a Public Hearing to take place via electronic communications in accordance with the Meeting Procedures (COVID-19 Suppression) Regulation, Order in Council 99/2020, on Tuesday, April 27, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. regarding the following:

Bylaw No. 21/003 – Land Use Bylaw

Bylaw No. 21/003 proposes to replace the current Land Use Bylaw No. 99/059 as required changes were significant enough to warrant the development of a completely new Land Use Bylaw (LUB) rather than continuing to amend the existing one.  The new LUB No. 21/003 proposes improvements to language, provision updates, modifications to dated sections, and the introduction of new regulations.  While it will follow the general zoning framework of the existing LUB, changes in the new LUB will include:

• Changes to accessory building and home business requirements
• Changes to signage requirements
• Simplifying and reducing the number of districts
• Addition of FireSmart provisions
• Changes to property districting
• Changes to parking requirements
• Updated definitions and land uses
• Addition of new secondary suite typologies
• Addition of design standards

The provisions in the new LUB are not retroactive; they will be applicable when approving new development or new subdivisions. There are rules in place to protect existing buildings or uses that no longer comply with the LUB that allow these non-conforming buildings and uses to continue with certain provisions regarding future alterations or uses.

Documents

A copy of the above-noted Bylaws and all related documents are available below. 

• Notice of Public Hearing
• Council Report
• Bylaw No. 21.003 Land Use Bylaw 
• Executive Summary

The documents may also be inspected by contacting the Planning and Development or Legislative Services Department between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic Council will be conducting Public Hearings through electronic communications in accordance with the Meeting Procedures (COVID-19 Suppression) Regulation, Order in Council 99/2020.

Residents are encouraged to participate in the Public Hearing via the following options:

Register online

Written Submissions Prior to the Hearing: 

Written comments to be included in the Council Meeting Agenda Package, must be received prior to 12 noon on Wednesday, April 14, 2021.

• Submit written comments online at  www.rmwb.ca/publichearingsubmission; or
• Email written comments to Legislative Services at legislative.assistants@rmwb.ca.  You must include your full name and clearly indicate support or opposition of the proposed bylaw and/or specified section of the proposed bylaw.

Written Submissions Received after April 14, 2021:

Written comments will be accepted up until the closing of the Public Hearing.

• Submit written comments to legislative.assistants@rmwb.ca
• Written comments received following the April 14, 2021 cut-off will be provided to Council via an update to the Council Meeting Agenda Package; or provided to Council via email as they are received.   
• Written submissions received during the Public Hearing will be shared with Council verbally during the hearing for a maximum of 5 minutes.
• Written submissions not already included in the Council Meeting Agenda Package, will be added in their entirety to the Council Meeting Agenda Package after the close of the Public Hearing, which is made available to the public and posted on the Municipality’s website.
• Emails that are received after the Public Hearing has been closed, or submissions not relevant to the Public Hearing will not become part of the record of this hearing and will not be considered by Council.

Verbal Submission at Council Meeting via Teleconference: 

Registration to speak during the Public Hearing, must be submitted prior to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, April 26, 2021.

• Pre-register on-line at www.rmwb.ca/publichearingsubmission. or
• Email Legislative Services at legislative.assistants@rmwb.ca or call Legislative Services at 780-743-7001 with the following information:
• The following information must be included with your registration:
• your full name,
• daytime phone number,
• the telephone number that you will be dialing in from; and
• an email address at which you may be contacted

All registrants will be emailed the details on how to participate prior to the start of the hearing. Each registrant will be given a maximum of 5 minutes to address Council.

Important note: Any information you submit to Council for their consideration at Public Hearings is added in its entirety to the agenda package, which is made available to the public and posted on the Municipality’s website. All registrants will be emailed the details on how to participate prior to the start of the hearing. Each registrant will be given a maximum of 5 minutes to address Council.