District of Kent Council grants temporary permit to operation that employs about 40, supports local students
AGASSIZ – The District of Kent will allow two companies to continue their operations at their current site after council voted in support of a one-year temporary use permit this past week.
According to a recap from the District of Kent, Council received a delegation on Monday, May 11 from the representative of the property owner of 2062 Lougheed Highway toward a temporary use permit to allow Maharg Contracting and Senica Logging to continue operations in the short term while they find a suitable solution in a new location.
The delegation told district council members that the business has been operating in that location since 2000 and acknowledged that their non-compliant use was recently brought to the district’s attention. To support their request for a temporary use permit, the delegation said their companies support other local businesses, employ approximately 40 people including students graduating from the welding program. The delegate expressed a willingness to make additional changes to further address ongoing impacts to neighbouring residences.
The District of Kent said public notification, through letters to surrounding property owners within a 30-metre radius and newspaper advertisements, generated concerns around negative impacts to the rural residential character of the area as well associated operational issues (noise, light, general disturbances after hours.), and continued traffic/safety concerns with commercial vehicles Lougheed Highway. All correspondence was received by Council.
