By Alex McCuaig

County greenhouse

Holsom Road greenhouse given green light in split vote

Jul 8, 2020 | 10:22 AM

CYPRESS COUNTY, AB – Ruben’s Veggies has been given the green light to proceed with its 40-acre greenhouse on Holsom Road following a marathon Cypress County meeting which saw councillors vote six to three in favour of a rezoning bylaw.

The vote came after two amendments to approve a smaller portion of the four-phase project of 10 and 20 acres in size were defeated.

One of those councillors who voted against the greenhouse says he is in favour of the industry but more long-term planning is needed to avoid the issues faced by Ruben’s and help find the most appropriate place for these facilities.

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“Pro-action is better than reaction,” said Coun. Robin Kurpjuweit. “I’d like to to know we have a plan moving forward.”

The inter-municipal development plan passed by Medicine Hat, Redcliff and Cypess County earlier this year had such a plan in the form of a greenhouse corridor that would have been located just south of the city’s airport.

That corridor was removed prior to final passage of that plan.

But planning for future expansion of the industry — which benefits from low energy and land prices, improved technological advances in greenhouse building materials plus a burgeoning agricultural corridor along Highway 3 — is needed, says Kurpjuweit.

“We are going to spend the next couple of months looking at our municipal development plan and our land-use bylaw. We’ll take a lot of lessons we’ve learned over the last six months with this most recent application,” he said. “And, hopefully, we can apply some of those lessons to the material and try to create more clarity.”

As for what’s next for Holsom Road residents affected by the greenhouse development, one of them says all options are on the table but they are likely going to be ensuring that regulations surrounding the facility are strictly adhered to.

“We’re going to work with the county and be very adamant that the guidelines in Ruben’s will build those greenhouses are in stone and enforceable,” said Craig Elder, who has lived nearby the property for the past decade. “And operators need to understand, they can not take liberties at the sake of their neighbours.”

Ruben’s didn’t respond to an interview request Wednesday but in their 79-page submission stressed precautions have been put in place to reduce light pollution by 80 per cent and that greenhouse development is consistent with the agricultural nature of Cypress County.

The project is divided in four phases of 10 acres each and will include a berm running between the greenhouse and Holsom Road.