Town drafting new policy to protect wetlands

Cochrane town council was provided an overview of the direction a new policy on the protection of wetlands would take during their Jan. 14 meeting.

Wetlands are identified by class, from one to seven; the lower classes, one to three being temporary or seasonal wetlands and not protected under any current policy, while Class 4 and above are considered environmental reserve (ER).

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Wetlands found in Sunset; rezoned for development

Despite an unexpected topographical surprise, a land-use bylaw amendment was approved by council for a portion of the Sunset Ridge neighbourhood allowing for the construction of a new school in the north-Cochrane community.

The surprise was the presence of level three wetlands, something Mayor Truper McBride did not anticipate and admitted posed an issue with the direction the town would take with regards to development in the area.

“I’m struggling with the alignment of our policies,” said McBride, adding that a wetland categorized as level three is a ‘significant’ one.

Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/byq9nmy