(Image Credit: Jett Schwaier/CHAT News)

By Jett Schwaier

CYPRESS COUNTY

Cypress County council tackles solar project, aerodrome bylaw and other items at its meeting Tuesday

Mar 24, 2026 | 7:17 PM

The Cypress County council discussed, approved and defeated a wide-range of agenda items at its meeting on Tuesday, including a solar development application, a proposed aerodrome protection bylaw, and governance and spending measures.

Council has approved 17 motions to pass development permits for the Blue Bridge Solar Project, allowing a commercial solar facility in the county’s northeast.

The 150-megawatt project, proposed by Blue Bridge Solar Park GP Ltd., received prior approval from the Alberta Utilities Commission and will see solar infrastructure developed across multiple parcels of agricultural land.

The project includes hundreds of thousands of solar panels, a substation and supporting infrastructure.

Later in the meeting, council considered a first reading of Bylaw 2026/06, a proposed land use bylaw amendment to establish a protection overlay for the private Schlenker Aerodrome.

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The proposed overlay, requested by the operator, would place additional development restrictions on several parcels south of Desert Blume, where the aerodrome is registered with Transport Canada.

However, administration noted the proposal conflicts with the Tri-Area Intermunicipal Development Plan, which does not envision long-term protection of the site and instead identifies the lands for both rural development and future urban growth.

Following a brief discussion, the council voted against giving the bylaw a first reading.

Council continued with the meeting by voting on a motion to endorse Coun. Robin Kurpjuweit to attend the Federation of Canadian Municipalities conference, seek a position on its board of directors and receive compensation in line with RMA policy, with a debate scheduled for April 7.

Coun. Kurpjuweit also brought forward a notice of motion directing administration to present options, including potential outsourcing, to accelerate the county’s capital asset management program to completion within one year, with a debate also set for April 7.

Another item discussed in the meeting included consideration of having the accounts payable listing brought forward to the council once every month.

A motion on the matter was ultimately defeated, following a presentation and a lengthy debate that centred on transparency versus governance.

Councillors in favour of the motion said the measure would improve accountability to ratepayers and noted other municipalities provide similar disclosures, while those opposed said it would amount to micromanagement, duplicate existing financial oversight and place additional strain on staff resources.

A short public hearing was also held during the meeting, where the council considered a proposal to rezone a 1.25-acre parcel along Highway 41A from Agricultural District 2 to Highway Commercial District to facilitate a future boundary adjustment subdivision.

No opposition was presented before the hearing came to a close.

Other items in the agenda include item 10.2, where council considered a $5,000 in-kind sponsorship of the Cypress Farm and Ranch Show, while not distributing complimentary tickets in county mail-outs and directing administration to promote the event through existing channels.

Under item 10.3, council approved, in principle, a revised Dunmore Community Association recreation project, supported a renewed letter of support, and directed administration to assist with servicing feasibility, noting potential future funding requests and project costs.

The council adjourned following a closed session period.