Rockwood council news in brief
A Rockwood business will be driving forward with plans to sell recreational vehicles.
At the Feb. 14 council meeting, Rockwood council approved a conditional use request to operate the business at two adjacent properties located just east of Stonewall on Road 8 East and Provincial Trunk Highway 7.
The applicants had previously been selling recreational vehicles from the property without conditional use approval. The landowner applied for conditional use to authorize the sale of these RVs.
Council conditionally approved the request. Conditions include a limit of daily operational hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., ensuring the premises are tidy and well-maintained, and obtaining any required permits, approvals or licences required by the provincial or federal governments. The applicant can display a maximum of three RVs at any one time in a designated display area. In addition, the applicant can store a maximum of 10 vehicles at any one time.
Council also approved a conditional use request from Parkdale Colony Holdings (Concord Colony Farms) to authorize the building of a 40,526-square-foot addition to an existing metal manufacturing development called KlarTech on a property at Provincial Road 220.
“KlarTech Inc. is an accessory manufacturing business located on Concord Colony Farms property. The applicant is proposing to expand the current manufacturing facility by doubling its current building footprint from 36,963 square feet to 77,500 square feet. According to the applicant, the existing manufacturing facility is a modern facility built with fabricated insulated concrete sandwich panels and a steel truss roof that was completed in 2012,” said Eric Shaw, general manager and development officer for South Interlake Planning District.
“The facility is located along the western edge of the Concord Colony Farms property, immediately east of PR 220. The proposed addition would utilize the same construction type (pre-cast concrete tilt up sandwich panel walls, concrete inside and outside with a layer of rigid insulation, and steel truss roof) as the current facility with upgrades to meet current energy codes. The building addition would be located on the north side of the existing facility.”
The manufacturing site is located deep within Concord Colony, surrounded by farmland and vegetation. The nearest home on a separate land title is located about 2,625 feet to the north.
“The applicant states that the proposed addition would not adversely impact the surrounding development, including those on and adjacent to the colony property,” Shaw said.
“Specifically, no drainage, emissions, noise, traffic or dust impacts are anticipated.”
The applicant must adhere to conditions that include obtaining all required permits from South Interlake Planning District, the RM of Rockwood and the provincial and federal governments. The principal use of the site must be an active agricultural operation, and no subdivision of the site will be permitted. Daily hours of operation will be limited to 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.
In addition, council approved a conditional use request for a 1,232-square-foot temporary mobile home on a property on Meridian Road east of the municipal boundary between the RMs of Rockwood and Woodlands.
The family has worked on this farm for generations and want to continue farming.
“According to the applicant, having a mobile home on the farmyard will provide added security during non-work hours and allow their grandfather to stay in his house longer without feeling the need to move off the farm to make room for the next generation. The applicant intends to reside in the proposed temporary mobile home, while their grandfather will continue to occupy the principal dwelling,” Shaw said.
“The applicant believes there will be no environmental concerns with regards to smoke, emissions, noise, traffic, dust and vibrations, and that it will fit into the context of the surrounding area with minimal impact.”
South Interlake Planning District had no significant concerns, and council conditionally approved the request.
A small crowd gathered in the RM of Rockwood council chambers for a public hearing related to Mountain Ridge Park Development’s proposed subdivision of a 22-acre property in Stony Mountain to create 34 residential lots as well as a public road, public reserve and a residual lot for future development.
The property is located in the southwest corner of Stony Mountain near Memorial Boulevard, Dufferin Drive and King Edward Road. Proposed lots 1 to 18 would have driveways on Memorial Boulevard or Dufferin Drive, while lots 19 to 24 would have driveways onto a proposed public cul-de-sac.
Council approved the request.
In other council news:
• The RM of Rockwood and the Town of Stonewall will jointly fund a new wildland unit for the Stonewall Rockwood Fire Department on a 50/50 basis. The total cost of the new Dodge Ram 3500 4WD crew truck from Gauthier Chrysler Dodge Jeep is $75,268 plus tax.
• Council is requesting that the Public Utilities Board approve the recovery of a $31,602 operating deficit incurred in 2022 for the Gunton utility through the accumulated working capital surplus.
• Council authorized the purchase of a half-page advertisement in the induction program for the 2024 Manitoba Softball Hall of Fame and Museum for $150.
• Council authorized Heidelberg Materials Ltd. to haul from their north approach on Road 7E to Road 78N. In addition, Heidelberg Materials Ltd. must provide written approval from Glacial Stone Inc. to use Road 7E between roads 78N and 79N.
• The Rural Municipality of Rockwood is inviting quotes for hourly rental rates of various types of equipment to establish pay rates for the 2024 construction and maintenance season. The deadline to submit a quotation package is Feb. 23. More information is available on the RM of Rockwood website at www.rockwood.ca.
