Permit for a new business venture in Woodlands County approved with conditions

The Woodlands County Municipal Planning Commission approved a development application during their January 19 meeting. The application was for a year-round business featuring ten small all-season off-grid cabins to provide a “quiet, wilderness experience.” In his permit application, the applicant, Ray Hilts, explained that customers would access the rental cabins by hiking from a parking area and that they would be developing trails throughout the property.

The application stated that “each cabin site will include a small cabin, roughly 200 to 250 square feet, be heated by a wood stove, and sleep two to four people.” It also stated that there would be an external outhouse at each site and that the cabins would have battery power for a fridge and lighting. “Each cabin will include a vault-style toilet and storage for greywater,” read the application, which also stated that black and grey water would be removed and hauled to a disposal facility. Potable water would be transported when cabins are booked.

Joan Slootweg, Manager of Community & Planning Services, explained more about the application. “This is for Intensive Recreational Use for a lodging establishment of ten rental cabins, accessory structure for storage, walking trails, parking area, and signage on the part of northeast 5912 west of the fifth. The parcel consists of 64.39 acres.” She said Woodlands County recently rezoned the area from Country Residential District to Rural Recreation District.

“We’ve pretty much followed what we would do for a Discretionary Use. We sent letters to adjacent landowners advising them of the development as well as referring out to the various agencies that we generally do. It is a permitted use,” she said. “At the discretion of the Development Officer, we brought it forward to the Municipal Planning Commission. We have referred to a few different departments, our Infrastructure Department, Alberta Health Services and Alberta Environment and Parks. We received comments back from our Woodlands Infrastructure Department with respect to approach construction, just to be ensured that any construction meets the standards and specifications as outlined in our design guidelines and construction standards at the developer’s expense. Also, indicating that parking of any vehicles should be retained within the site itself and not be on County road allowances.”

Slootweg said that Alberta Environment and Parks had no concerns. “They had indicated at the time of rezoning just that any uses being proposed within the parcel itself should remain within the boundaries. If he has any desire to expand and maybe look at putting trails within the public lands, then he would be required to make an application through the province for any type of a recreational lease.”

Slootweg said that Alberta Health Services did not reply concerning the application but added that since it is a commercial operation with accommodations, they will require permitting through them. “We did advertise it for two weeks. We just had one individual who came into the front counter just inquiring where the exact location was. He has no concerns with what’s being proposed, and we never received any letters from any adjacent landowners.”

Councillor Bruce Prestidge said that he saw no problem with it as long as it fell within the zoning and development requirements. Member Tracy Mitchell agreed with Prestidge. “We did approve one later last year with the same idea. It was rental cabins with some rustic sites, and the conditions are almost the same, so I am certainly in favour of this.” The commission voted unanimously with twenty-five conditions in place.

Conditions include that permanent occupancy is not permitted and that signage should be kept safe, clean, and tidy. Any expansions to the number of cabins would require a new permit, and Hilts would need bear-proof garbage disposal cans at each cabin or in a central location.

Mayor John Burrows said that it was good to see a new business coming into the County. “Anytime you see a development like that happening in the County, it’s great.” He said it was also nice to see Woodlands County landowners finding creative ways to utilize their property as a business venture. “There is opportunity out there, and the economy is changing, and things are changing around us a bit. We’re going to have to get creative, and Alberta is full of creative people. Woodlands County is no exception to that.”

For those interested in seeing what possibilities exist and the do’s and don’ts of starting a business, Mayor Burrows said there are all kinds of supports at the Municipal level. “First of all, you’ve got our Economic Development Officer Bert Roach. If you’re looking at starting up a business in the County, that’s probably the first person I would talk to. He can point you in the direction of our development people and help you make contacts for the finance portion, such as Community Futures. There are a lot of supports available that I wasn’t aware of before getting onto Council.”