Whitecourt addresses zoning compliance concerns for Soaring Eagle Support Society

By Haylee Winger
The Town of Whitecourt has recently identified that operations at the Soaring Eagle Support
Society property no longer comply with the zoning regulations for its Highway Commercial
district.
Town officials explained that the original use of the property differed from current operations,
which has led to the non-compliance issue. While the coordination and availability of social
services is recognized as an important community resource, the location and operational impacts
of such facilities must align with local zoning regulations.
Town staff have met with representatives from the Society to provide guidance on options for
addressing the issue. According to the Town, the Society is actively preparing an application to
rezone the property to reflect its current use.
The Town of Whitecourt noted that land use planning in Alberta is regulated under the Municipal
Government Act, which requires rezoning applications to follow a formal process. Once a
rezoning application is submitted, the Town will advertise it on its website and in newspaper,
followed by a formal Public Hearing to allow residents to share their feedback.
Until an official application is received, Town Council cannot accept submissions or comments
on the potential rezoning, as doing so could compromise the integrity of the decision-making
process.
Residents will be informed when an application is submitted and will be provided with details on
how to participate in the public consultation process.