The possible impact of the new North Battleford official community plan on the operations of the Battlefords Agricultural Society came up at a Dec. 9 council meeting.
The issue came up in response to a letter from office manager Karla White of the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association, expressing support for the Ag Society while voicing concern about the plan.
"Their concern is that the new community plan will deter or limit the way the Ag Society will hold events out there," said Councillor Greg Lightfoot. Lightfoot wanted City Planner Tim LaFreniere's comment on the concerns.
LaFreniere noted under the OCP there would be no impact on operation of the chuckwagons or the existing operations of the Ag Society.
He assured councillors that there is nothing to "impede their current operations or any use of their existing facilities."
They would need to come to council to "discuss significant long-term changes to developments on the site - buildings, additions to buildings, structural alterations to buildings would be a matter of discussion with council, subject to the whims of council," said LaFreniere.
He noted the Ag Society already has a lease for the land. What is at issue is the "long-term use of that property," said LaFreniere.
In meeting with the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce the following evening, Councillor Ryan Bater expanded on the plan and the issues involving the Ag Society.
He touched on a concern expressed from Ag Society representatives for years about proposals for Carlton Trail to be extended parallel to Highway 16 and meet up with Highway 40 to the north, going between where the Agriplex and Agrivilla are located now.
"The issue with that, of course, is that that's where the Ag Society operation is," said Bater.
He expanded on the rationale behind the proposed Carlton Trail extension.
"The reason why you build that road is not for access; it's to build a commercial corridor, the idea being that the land around that road is for commercial development. The reason that's a priority in the official community plan is that it's parallel to Highway 16 which is the highest visibility we have to offer. So for commercial developers that's incredibly attractive land. But we also have a 100-year-old institution located there. We've got to find some balance there and find a way to move forward together with mutual benefit."
He said the previous council met with the Ag Society. The current council has not, Bater said, but he indicated to the Chamber the council would be having that meeting during the six-week run up to second and third reading of the official community plan to learn what their future plans are.
