One of the main topics of concern at the RM of Keys Council meeting on May 10 was the Crystal Lake Hutterian Brethren’s proposed colony development.
Barry Hvidston, administrator, said there were a number of lengthy discussions regarding the intensive livestock operation (ILO), the proposed zoning bylaw change, and a petition.
A petition was submitted by a group of ratepayers on April 23 to stop the collective dwelling aspect of the proposed zoning change until such a time that a vote of ratepayers can occur.
Hvidston said the petition was deemed insufficient and not binding for the following reasons: most of the signatures were deemed insufficient because a statement of petition is required by regulation to be on every page of the petition, and it wasn’t, and ratepayers can petition the municipalities act but they cannot petition the planning and development act, and the zoning bylaw change occurs under the planning and development act.
Council passed third reading of the zoning bylaw amendment to allow collective dwelling in the RM of Keys, but there were no further resolutions in regard to the proposed colony development. Hvidston said the zoning bylaw change was to be sent in to the Saskatchewan Government Municipal Affairs Department for approval.
He said the ILO aspect of the proposed colony development has not been approved by council at this time because council is waiting for the colony’s manure management plant to be approved by Saskatchewan Agriculture.
