By Emily Jaycox For The Independent
Dave Hamm of the Paradise Shores development and his lawyer, Robert Shuett, appeared before Stettler County Council during their regular meeting Feb. 13, to ask the county to “speed up the process.”
Hamm requested that council amend the bylaw to the Buffalo Lake Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) to allow for the development to go forward.
“We would ask the county to take steps to review the IDP in an expeditious manner,” said Hamm.
“How long do you think one of these reviews takes, typically?” responded Coun. James Nibourg, pointing out the Paradise Shores development matter is currently before the Court of Appeal.
“We’re asking that that not be an issue,” said Hamm.
“I believe the county actually has the authority and the ability to say, ‘You know what? We don’t want the Court of Appeal to be involved in our decision-making process - we believe this is a good development for our community.’”
Hamm says that if the county amended the bylaw, the decision of the court would then be “moot.”
“I think everyone recognizes this is a positive thing for the county,” he said.
“If that’s the case, then we would need the assistance of the county to keep the summer villages to their agreement.”
Nibourg says council will take the matter under advisement, but amending the bylaw may not be in the best interest of the development as it would open up the IDP to public consultation.
“They could change their minds … the county has to represent the people,” said Nibourg.
“We’re not going to sit here and decide this today,” he said, adding it would take some thought and research to come up with a solution.
“Council very rarely responds to a request during a presentation,” said Nicki Thorsteinsson, director of communications.
“We will follow the process and abide by it.”