Stettler County has taken two summer villages to dispute resolution over the Buffalo Lake RV Resort.
Council voted unanimously March 11 to initiate the process over the opposition by the Summer Villages of White Sands and Rochon Sands to the county’s proposed amendment to increase the resort’s density through the Buffalo Lake South Shore Intermunicipal Development Plan (BLSSIDP).
A letter has been sent to the two municipalities requesting that a meeting be held by March 30.
Stettler County development officer Cara McKenzie explained a meeting must be held within 30 days of a request to address procedures with the process, with a mediator to meet with municipalities within 20 days of that initial meeting.
The dispute stems from the opposition of both summer villages to changing the plan to allow Buffalo Lake RV Resort, formerly known as Paradise Shores, to increase the lot density to 325 from the 168 designated in a ruling last year by the county’s subdivision development appeal board.
That ruling was later upheld in an Alberta court on appeal.
The county approved a motion to request the amendment back in December, following a statement from the developer that the project was no longer financially viable.
Despite this, the county does not disagree with or disparage either of the judgments.
However, according to the county, it has been indentified that the plan could better address applications for development other than multi-lot residential subdivisions.
“The County of Stettler remains hopeful that a positive working relationship may be maintained with the Summer Villages as we work through the dispute resolution process,” McKenzie said.