Neighbours oppose proposed feedlot east of Stavely

By Rob Vogt
The Municipal Planning Commission of the Municipal District of Willow Creek will voice the concerns of its ratepayers to the Natural Resources Conservation Board about a proposed confined feeding operation east of Stavely.
At its June 12 meeting, the commission read correspondence from the Natural Resources Conservation Board indicating an application at 31-14-26-4 by the Hutterian Brethren of Ivy Ridge has been deemed complete.
The application is to construct a chicken layer and pullet barn 111.56 metres by 30.48 metres; a dairy barn 111.56 metres by 36.58 metres by 3.7 metres deep; a calf shed and dry cow barn 111.56 metres by 45.72 metres; a broiler barn 111.56 metres by 36.58 metres; and a mixed poultry barn 76.2 metres by 18.29 metres for 150 dairy cows plus associated dries and replacements, 18,000 chicken layers, 34,000 chicken pullets/broilers, 1,000 ducks, and 100 geese.
Coun. Glen Alm said the application did not seem like it proposed a lot of water for a colony and livestock.
Coun. Brian Nelson pointed out the well listed in the application is actually on the well of a neighbour’s land, and not on the applicant’s land.
Moreover, the well owner was present and said he was not approached by the applicant to use the well.
Cindy Chisholm, the M.D.’s manager of planning and development, said the applicant made changes to the initial application, re-locating manure storage from the southeast to northeast corner of the development.
Consequently, the notice of application has to be re-circulated to give adjacent landowners an opportunity to comment.
Chelsey Hurt, an adjacent landowner, was present and shared her concerns over the proposed development.
She said in her research she learned approval officers of the Natural Resources Conservation Board are instructed not to consider the cumulative effects on the community.
Hurt said they also don’t consider the impact on land values either.
She was concerned about traffic where the road does not have access or deceleration lanes, no shoulders, and is a school bus route.
There will be an impact on M.D. services such as the fire departments as well.
She also knows endangered species are on the land such as ferruginous hawks as well as wetland habitat.
Water is one of the major concerns. The applicant proposes to pipe water six kilometres, going under the highway, from Mosquito Creek.
The current licence allows pumping from April to October. Hurt noted Mosquito Creek often dries up in July. She also pointed out the water licence has to be amended, because it is currently for irrigation.
She said the applicant plans on drilling wells and filling a reservoir, but this will affect existing neighbours’ wells because the water flows are already low. She added Mosquito Creek is also the water source for Nanton and Parkland.
Hurt advised council two community meetings have been held in the past week.
“There’s strong opposition to this,” she said, adding she anticipates 200 letters going to the Natural Resources Conservation Board and the local MLA.
Hurt concluded by noting a large-scale, intensive development located in a pristine agricultural area occupied by fifth-generation family farms just doesn’t fit.
She later requested assessment of the impact on traffic, water and services.
Alm said the M.D. makes comments on all applications forwarded from the Natural Resources Conservation Board.
“Our record is not too good,” he said. “We don’t get heard very well.”
Hurt responded the challenge is they have 20 days to respond to the application when the Natural Resources Conservation Board does not consider the impact on their quality of life.
“Nobody is hearing our interests,” she said.
Reeve Maryanne Sandberg responded the M.D. can listen to ratepayers’ concerns.
“We can relay those on your behalf,” she said.
However, she cautioned, the M.D. does not make the decisions.
“We’ve had very, very poor response,” she said.
Sandberg explained the Natural Resources Conservation Board, Alberta Utilities Commission, and Alberta Energy Regulator all have jurisdiction over municipalities, but the M.D. has advocated without success to have this changed.
Terry Olsen is another adjacent landowner who has lived in that area his whole life.
He noted they have had terribly dry spells and drought. There have been times Mosquito Creek doesn’t have flow.
Olsen said the neighbours’ wells will be affected.
He also said the Natural Resources Conservation Board has to be overhauled, because one person should not have power of approval.
“I think that’s kind of ridiculous,” he said.
“We’re going to be really impacted,” Olsen concluded. “We need the water and there won’t be enough of it.”
Mike Dawber is another adjacent landowner.
“This is going to have a huge impact on our way of life,” he said, adding they were just looking for some help to raise their concerns. “We just need some hope.
“This looks like a done deal to us.”
“We understand your concerns,” Alm said, adding the M.D. always comments on applications sent for comment. “Water jumps out at us always.”
He added applicants choose to get approval for their confined feeding operation first, then seek out water.
Alm said the M.D. is trying to have that changed.
Coun. Brian Nelson concurred, noting the provincial government made it so applicants can get approved without a confirmed water source.
Sandberg urged everyone to hit the government by writing letters.
“They should be looking at this very seriously,” she said.
After a closed session where the commission considered all applications, the MPC reverted to open session and agreed to write a letter expressing concerns over the impact of the proposed confined feeding operation on water and infrastructure.