County delays decision on bylaw to get legal opinion on the issue of stray bullets

By Patricia Harcourt
Staff Reporter

A public hearing into a land rezoning application heard objections from neighbours fearing that a later subdivision would impact wildlife and the historic nature of the moraine habitat.

The county won’t approve or deny the application until it receives a legal opinion on liability if stray bullets from a nearby gun range, which is only 300 ft. away, enter the proposed subdivision.

Dr. Stephen Carey, the applicant, has already built a subdivision in the area called Carey Ridge Estates. This latest 155 acres of land he wishes to develop into 30 lots is located at NW 21-50-20-W4.

However, the land must be rezoned from agricultural to country residential before the subdivision process can proceed. It is this application that Beaver County Council is considering and the reason for the Dec. 14 public hearing.

Particular information from the Sherwood Park Fish and Game Association, which is located adjacent to the property in question, led council to delay any decision after the public hearing.

One pro-development councillor felt the information could stymie this and other applications, due to the potential danger of a firing range being so close to houses being built nearby. Dennis Miciak (Division 4) went to so far as to suggest the gun club might have to be shut down if it hampered the county’s desire to encourage growth that would increase the local population.

Patrick Harris, President of the Sherwood Park Fish and Game Association, warned council of the potential for stray bullets to travel far enough as to enter the perimeter of the proposed subdivision, stating putting a subdivision down range of their property “doesn’t make sense.”

More see the Dec. 20/11 issue of the Tofield Mercury