Bylaw 1044, 2020 – Land Use Bylaw Amendment – Cannabis Retail Commercial Rezone – 2nd and 3rd Reading

Bylaw 1044-2020 is a request to amend the Land Use Bylaw to re-designate a parcel from C-1 to C-4 Cannabis Retail. The subject parcel is at 13609-20th Avenue Blairmore. Council passed First Reading of Bylaw 1044-2020 on February 25, 2020 and must now conduct a public hearing in accordance with the Municipal Government Act. Notifications were sent to affected landowners using a notification radius of 250m from the subject site as well as notice in the newspaper and on the Municipal website. The intention of the application is to facilitate the development of a retail cannabis store. The application states a desire to eventually develop two separate businesses at this location - ‘cannabis retail store’ and ‘sit down and/or drive through restaurant’. However the proposed C-4 district does not allow for a drive-in restaurant and any additional use must be separated from the cannabis retail store according to AGLC. The application complies with the Land Use Bylaw setbacks for Cannabis Retail Sales with the exception of a distance of less than 200m from the subject parcel to the Nippon Institute (school) parcel. After council heard from two members of the public as well as receiving multiple letters both for and against, council passed both 2nd and 3rd readings of this bylaw. Councillors Anctil and Sygutek both voted against third reading.

Tax and Utility Penalty Deferral

Given the current economic situation around the Covid-19 pandemic, residents and businesses alike are feeling the pressure to pay their bills. To help alleviate this, Council voted to delay penalties on tax and utility payments. The bills will still be issued and will accumulate, however those that need more time, will not accrue late fees right away. For those that can still pay, they are strongly encouraged to do so. Here is a message from council:

We know that there are people struggling with the changes that COVID-19 has brought to the world. As a way to assist residents in the Crowsnest Pass who are financially affected by this pandemic, we are deferring penalties for 2020 property taxes until September 1 and the penalties for utilities from April 1 to July 1.

Bylaw 1048, 2020 – Property Tax Rates Bylaw – 1st Reading

The annual property tax rate bylaw sets out the assessed property values by class and calculates the tax rates required to raise budgeted tax revenue in accordance with property tax policies. The amount of tax revenue required to balance the 2020 budget was presented and approved by Council on December 11, 2019. Administration recommends municipal tax rates for the various residential and non-residential properties based upon the budgeted tax requirement, assessed property values and other directions provided by Council.

The 2020 Property Tax Rate Bylaw has been prepared including a two (2) per cent increase over and above the increase in assessment value between 2019 and 2020. The annual bylaw sets out the assessed property values by class and calculates the tax rates required to raise budgeted tax revenue in accordance with property tax policies. The amount of tax revenue required to balance the 2020 budget was presented and approved by Council on December 11, 2019. The Municipality collects enough property taxes to satisfy Council approved budget requirements. In preparing the 2020 budget, no contingencies were accounted for, such as the Provincial Government downloading policing costs, Provincial Government only paying 50 percent of the grants-in-lieu-of-tax, potential union contract settlement and Senior Housing additional budget ask. Also, during 2020 budget discussions Administration and Council could not have anticipated lost revenues and increased expenses as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. After some discussion, council agreed to move forward with a one (1) per cent tax increase for the year.

Digital issues of the Pass Herald are now available:

Subscribe and read the FULL Pass Herald online.

or read just this issue of the Pass Herald online.