Red Deer County council passed changes to gravel pit regulations, including boosting the distance they can be located from nearby homes.
Gravel pit setbacks were boosted to 300 metres from 165 metres in amendments to the Gravel Extraction Overlay District in the county's Land Use Bylaw.
Other changes require additional dust control when complaints have been received, conditions are dry or there is increased gravel mining activity.
A hydrology report must be submitted when warranted to the county and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, and screening is required when neighbours might be affected.
Prior to making a gravel pit application, operators must undertake public consultation, including at least one open house and notification to all landowners within 1.6 kilometres.
Coun. Christine Moore said the overlay district needed changing.
"We have to do something. What we have is broken and flawed and we've heard that loud and clear," said Moore.
"It's about thoughtful, intentional, science-based development," she said.
But what is proposed does not go far enough, she said.
Moore said she wanted gravel pits to remain discretionary, requiring council approval and giving residents the option of appealing. The overarching goal of the county's land use regulations is to ensure residents are not negatively affected by development, and the gravel district changes do not do enough to ensure that.
She also wanted to see hydrology reports a requirement. "I don't think 'may' (be required) is strong enough. I think it is really important that we have this report …"
Moore voted against second and third reading after earlier making an unsuccessful motion to refer the proposed changes back to administration for more information.
Mayor Jim Wood said he supported the changes except for the "arbitrary" 300-metre setback.
"I'm having trouble with it, to be honest with you. I support all the other measures except for the distance."
Wood voted against the second reading along with Moore, but voted in favour of the third reading. Moore voted against both readings.
Coun. Brent Ramsay said he's heard concerns from residents about the gravel bylaw.
"I recognize there are significant concerns with the bylaw," he said, but no matter how many changes council made, not everyone is going to be completely satisfied, he said.
There have been many setback suggestions, he said, adding "I feel where we landed is a good start."
The screening requirements will help neighbouring landowners, and for him, the hydrology assessment now required is a "key part of this.
"I get Alberta Environment has some jurisdiction here but as a decision-maker I think understanding how the water works in the area and how it's going to affect nearby folks is key to deciding whether gravel extraction should be allowed in an area or not."
Many councillors spoke to the changes as a compromise and predicted not all would be happy with council's decision.
"It's a compromise. Not everyone's going to win," said Coun. Philip Massier. "But we're not here for everyone winning. We're here for everyone to be able to live with it."
Coun. Dana Depalme said the public consultation was "huge" for her, and while not everyone will agree, the process provided understanding on both sides.
"I know everything is probably not captured but this is a start and I would rather see this going forward then not changing anything at this point in time."
Coun. Lonny Kennett said that while there have been calls to make gravel pit applications discretionary, in the past, that has led to rounds of appeals.
"And that's not good for anyone," he said.
Kennett said council has spent a lot of time trying to improve gravel pit regulations. The increased setbacks and dust control requirements are helpful.
"It's not perfect, but to go back to what we have currently, if this didn't pass, that's even worse in my mind."
Dale Christian, who has long campaigned for stronger regulations around gravel pits, called on the county to scrap the overlay districts "because it doesn't serve the purpose that Red Deer County gave it."
Gravel pits should not be allowed on floodplains or where they could have an effect on aquifers. The cumulative impact of gravel pits should be considered with all gravel pit applications and any setbacks should be taken from within the gravel pit property and not taken from the property of neighbouring landowners, she told council.
"Taking adjacent properties for setbacks is just not fair," she said, adding it amounts to a "confiscation" of residents' rights to use, enjoy or derive a living from their land.
Baseline data should be collected before any pit application is considered and when approved it must be monitored full-time.
