Cattle may once again be grazing the hillsides of the Williams Lake valley, as a possible zoning bylaw amendment moves through the application process at city hall.
Simone Mandarino had made the application on behalf of Westridge Ventures Ltd. to allow for the amendment to permit cattle grazing on property zoned for single family residential. The area is slated for eventual development but currently has farmland status and is assessed as such.
The sections of property are unserviced and undeveloped lots around Westridge Estates, and a similar temporary use permit had been approved in the past, partly to help reduce fire hazard.
The amendment will allow for no more than 60 head of cattle on the approximately 49.3 acres in question, which the application states is fully fenced.
Cattle grazing has been permitted on the property since 2018 and there has been one documented complaint of cattle getting out of the fenced area.
This bylaw amendment would replace the need for the applicant to reapply in the future and would extend the permitted use for an undetermined amount of time. If the current planned lot size stays the same, the cattle allowance would remain.
Staff recommended the council go ahead with first and second reading of the application and move ahead with a public hearing for public input before a final decision is passed.
A public hearing has been set and nearby property owners will be notified of the opportunity to voice their concerns or ask questions at the meeting at city hall on March 26 at 6 p.m.
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