On June 25, following a public hearing during the regular Public Works monthly meeting, the County of St. Paul passed the third and final reading to rezone a parcel of land near the town of Elk Point to an Industrial/Commercial (IC) District.
This rezoning will allow the property owner to expand an existing retail store and gas station located at the intersection of Highway 41 and Highway 646, which was previously impossible under the former Agricultural (A) zoning.
The property, and surrounding land and properties, were zoned as Urban Expansion until 2013 when the County amended the land use bylaw and reverted the area to agricultural zoning. This change rendered the retail store and gas station a non-conforming use under the current bylaw, allowing them to operate but preventing any expansion unless the area was rezoned to an IC district.
The council approved the first reading of the rezoning during the Public Works meeting on April 28. During the public hearing on June 25, no opposition to the rezoning was voiced, and the town of Elk Point provided a letter of support.
Ken Gwozdz, CAO of the town of Elk Point, indicated in the letter that the rezoning aligns with the Intermunicipal South Buffalo Trail Draft Area Structure Plan. This draft is being developed by Elk Point and the County to help guide “future growth and development of lands located at the southern gateway to Elk Point,” according to information from the town of Elk Point.
Coun. Maxine Fodness motioned to pass the second reading, and the motion was carried. Coun. Darrell Younghans motioned to give the third reading, and the motion was carried, officially changing the zoning to Industrial/Commercial and paving the way for the retail store and gas station expansion.
