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Land Use Bylaw Review
Village of Empress Land Use Bylaw Review
QUICK LINKS:
Notice of Public Hearing, Proposed Land Use Bylaw 2025-01
Request for Decision (Jan 15, 2025) – Updated Land Use Bylaw, 1st Reading and Public Hearing Date
Updated Draft Land Use Bylaw (Jan 10, 2025) – Clean
Updated Draft Land Use Bylaw (Jan 10, 2025) – Redlined
Reponses to the “What We Heard Report”
Request for Decision – What We Heard Report
UPDATE: January 22, 2025
Council has set a date and location for the Public Hearing for Proposed Land Use Bylaw 2025-01. Please see the attached NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING for details and additional information.
UPDATE: January 10, 2025
At the December, 2024 Council Meeting Council review the “What We Heard Report” and Recommendations Report and provided further feedback and changes to the Draft Land Use Bylaw. At the January 15, 2025 Council meeting, Council is being asked to pass first reading of the Draft Land Use Bylaw (red-lined and clean versions can be found here) and pass a motion to set a date for the public hearing, as per the associated Request for Decision. The Public Hearing is the formal opportunity for those who feel affected to have their comments heard and considered.
UPDATE: December 12, 2024
On November 26, 2024 Empress held a workshop for community groups and an open house for the public regarding the proposed Land Use Bylaw. We also collected surveys from residents and stakeholders until December 6, 2024. Based on the public engagements, Palliser Regional Municipal Services, with input from Administration, has drafted a What We Heard Report, responses to the “What We Heard” Report, and a Request for Decision (RFD) regarding the “What We Heard” Report. Based on the attached information, Council has also been provided with an updated draft bylaw which incorporates the information in the Request for Decision (RFD). These reports and recommendations will be discussed by Council at the December 18, 2024 Regular Council meeting.
UPDATE: October 30, 2024
Notice of Public Open House – November 26, 2024 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Empress Community Hall
The Village of Empress is working with Palliser Regional Municipal Services (PRMS) to update the Village’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB) in collaboration with the Village Council and its residents. The new LUB will replace the current version of the Empress LUB Bylaw 7-2013 with an entirely new bylaw.
The draft LUB and land use district map can be viewed here. The draft Land Use District map that shows the proposed rezonings can be viewed here.
What is a LUB?
A Land Use Bylaw directs the use and development of lands and buildings. By establishing land use districts (zoning), the LUB regulates the types of activities and buildings that can occur on any specific property. It also contains regulations, such as building height, maximum parcel coverage and building setbacks from property lines. The LUB is the tool that the long-term vision and goals of the Empress Municipal Development Plan (Bylaw 2020-10) are implemented on a day-to-day basis. The purpose of the LUB is to enable development, while minimizing the potential impacts on adjacent neighbours.
What is the review process and timelines?
PRMS is currently gathering feedback on the draft LUB from the residents and businesses of Empress. An open house is being held on Tuesday November 26, 2024 at the Empress Community Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. You are invited to attend the open house and discuss the draft LUB with Palliser staff and Village Administration.
You can also fill out this survey and return it by December 6th.
Following the open house, the draft LUB will be revised as necessary. The draft LUB will then be presented to Council for 1st reading of the Bylaw, which is anticipated to occur at its regular meeting in December 2024. A formal public hearing will be held to provide the opportunity for affected persons to speak to Council which is anticipated to occur in January 2025.
What is proposed to change from the current LUB 7-2013?
The draft LUB is significantly different from the current Land Use Bylaw 7-2013. Some of these changes include:
- reorganization and reformatting to make the LUB easier to read and understand;
- ensuring the LUB meets the new requirements of the Municipal Government Act; for example issuing complete application notices;
- ensuring all uses and terms are defined for clarity;
- eliminating the need for permits for developments which have low impact, such as signs, home occupations, demolition of a building, and solar panels;
- clarification of development permit application requirements;
- increasing the variance power of the Development Officer to 20% from 10%;
- greater detail of bylaw enforcement, limiting enforcement to issuing stop orders;
- ensuring the correct land use districts are applied to each property and appropriate uses are listed in each district;
- adding a new ‘Seasonal Accommodation’ use to allow for temporary accommodation of a recreational vehicle on parcels in the General Village Districts, subject to a number of requirements;
- adding a new ‘Short-Term Rental’ use to allow a dwelling to be rented out for short-term accommodation in the Residential and General Village Districts;
- increasing the number of permitted uses in all districts to encourage more development and reduce the ability for appeals (if the development meets the rules of the land use bylaw);
- eliminating the minimum size of dwellings to allow smaller houses (not a separate ‘Tiny Home’ use);
- eliminating the Manufactured Home District;
- changing the zoning of certain properties to align with the purpose and intent of each district and the direction of the Empress Municipal Development Plan, and eliminating some non-conforming uses;
- removing all regulations related to Telecommunication Structures, and creating a new proposed Telecommunication Structure Policy in alignment with Industry, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) process. The draft Telecommunication Structure Policy can be viewed here.
What are the next steps in the process?
Following the open house on November 26th and after all surveys have been received by the deadline of December 6, all feedback received will be used by PRMS to inform further revisions to the LUB.
Once a final draft LUB is ready, it will be provided to Empress Council for the first of three readings of a bylaw. A public hearing will be held prior to second reading.
Council can make changes to the draft bylaw at any of the three readings to address any concerns expressed at the public hearing or concerns of Council.
Where can I get more information?
If you have any questions or comments, please contact:
Tracy Woitenko
Senior Planner, PRMS
403-854-3371 ext. 207
Update September 23, 2024
The Village of Empress has been working with Palliser Regional Municipal Services (PRMS) to update the Village’s Land Use Bylaw (LUB). The new LUB will replace the current version of the Empress LUB Bylaw 7-2013 with an entirely new bylaw.
What is a LUB?
A Land Use Bylaw directs the use and development of lands and buildings. By establishing land use districts (zoning), the LUB regulates the types of activities and buildings that can occur on any specific property. It also contains regulations, such as building height, maximum parcel coverage and building setbacks from property lines. The LUB is the tool that the long-term vision and goals of the Empress Municipal Development Plan (Bylaw 2020-10) are implemented on a day-to-day basis. The purpose of the LUB is to enable development, while minimizing the potential impacts on adjacent neighbours.
What is the review process and the updated timeline?
The proposed new Land Use Bylaw was drafted by PRMS and Village Administration during the summer. Prior to presenting the draft LUB to the public, it will first be presented for information and comment to the Village of Empress Council at a workshop this October. Because of the by-election in early September, the LUB review process progressed at a slower pace than was planned for. Following the Council workshop, the draft LUB will be revised and will be made available to the public in late-October. Check the Village website to download a copy of the draft LUB. PRMS and Village staff will be present at an open house in late November 2024. A survey will also be conducted to obtain feedback on the draft. This feedback will be used to prepare a revised version of the draft LUB for Council’s consideration.
The draft LUB must be approved by bylaw, and a public hearing held before second reading of the bylaw. It is anticipated the new Land Use Bylaw could be approved and come into effect by January 2025.
How will the new Land Use Bylaw be approved?
Council is responsible to approve the new Land Use Bylaw by bylaw. The draft LUB will be presented to Council for the first of three readings of a bylaw and a public hearing will be held prior to second reading. Council can make changes to the draft bylaw at any of the three readings to address any concerns expressed at the public hearing or concerns of Council.
How can the public provide input to the draft Land Use Bylaw?
Residents, business and landowners are invited to provide feedback at the open house this November and the public hearing, likely to be held in December 2024 or early January 2025. The public hearing date will be advertised a few weeks in advance of the public hearing.
A copy of the Communication and Engagement Plan can be viewed here.
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