The Drumheller Town Council has drawn a line in the sand when it comes to the storage of hazardous chemicals at their most recent meeting.

Town Council, in a narrow 4-3 voted, defeated a motion for third reading Bylaw 12.13, which would amend the Land Use Bylaw to include hazardous chemical storage as a discretionary use in light industrial areas, rather than the current medium industrial.

    On Monday, October 7, Council was presented with the second and third readings of Bylaw 12.13, which would amend the Land Use Bylaw so that the storage of hazardous chemicals would be a discretionary use in light industrial (M-1) districts. The current bylaw lists hazardous chemical storage as a discretionary use in medium industrial (M-2) districts.
    Discretionary use designation requires approval from the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) for any development. For example, if a business wanted to store hazardous chemicals in a medium industrial district, it would first have to seek approval from the MPC.
    Prior to the second reading, a public hearing was held. In it, Brad Wiebe of Palliser Regional Municipal Services outlined the changes in the amendment and presented an alternative option to redesignate a portion of land on the western side of Hygrade industrial park to M-2. Wiebe noted neither option was supported by the MPC. Wiebe pointed out the area in question was 223 metres from the nearest residential zone.
    MPC did not support the amendment due to the area’s long-standing M-1 designation, M-2 land, currently available, could invite nuisance developments not compatible with the surrounding area, and current developments in the area are compliant with M-1 requirements.
    Christopher Knight, operations manager for Platinum Solutions, who requested the amendment, guaranteed the chemicals that would be stored are safe and storage methods would exceed industry standards. The chemicals would not be mixed at the site.
    Knight also promised the business did not create a nuisance through noise levels.
    Councillor Lisa Hansen-Zacharuk asked what the worst case scenario would be. Knight explained the chemicals are relatively inert and would simply spill and, if they caught on fire, due to their ethanol content, any fire would be out very quickly.
    Councillor Jay Garbutt was confident the MPC could address any further applications of a similar nature, were the amendment to pass.
    “By amending discretionary use to include this industry, it doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. It hands complete discretion back to MPC to make sure any and all appropriate measures are taken,” said Councillor Garbutt.
    Councillor Tom Zariski felt administration should investigate how the City of Red Deer, who has discretionary use for hazardous chemical storage in M-1 areas, handles applications.
    Councillor Andrew Berdahl requested an amendment be made to the proposal. He asked the requirements for discretionary use of hazardous chemical under the M-2 designation be kept the same, and as strict, in the M-1 zones.
    “I feel the procedures outlined in (the current) M-2 would fit this situation better and should be included,” said Berdahl.
    Councillor Sharel Shoff and Doug Stanford felt Platinum Solutions should have investigated the town’s bylaws and set up in the M-2 district.
    “M-2 is where they should be. It’s in the bylaw. I cannot and will not vote to change the bylaw to allow this in M-1,” said Shoff.
    A motion for second reading was carried 4-3, with Councillors Shoff, Stanford, and Zariski opposed. A motion for third reading was defeated with Councillors Berdahl, Shoff, Stanford, and Zariski opposed.

Students at Greentree School, such as Joshua Unland, Haley Bagley, Brody Bolin, and Chase Mackey, are helping Farm Credit Canada Drive Away Hunger this fall in recognition of World Food Day on October 16. The school is collecting donations until October 18, and everything collected will be given to the Drumheller Food Bank.