Ritchot’s council met on the evening of October 16 to address a variety of items on their agenda.
The first was a request for a variation to the property at 509 Proteau Drive in St. Adolphe. Homeowner Ilene Trudel was present to make her presentation to council. The request was to vary the west side yard distance from ten feet to four feet and the front yard distance from 30 feet to approximately 24 feet in order to attach a 720-square-foot garage to the existing dwelling.
Trudel says that many other variances have been approved for similar projects along her street. One email was received from a resident in support of the request.
Council voted unanimously in favor of the application.
Grande Pointe Subdivision
Another application was received from Deer Ridge Developments Ltd. for a subdivision in Grande Pointe which will result in public road construction within the new 15-lot development.
Two Grande Pointe residents were in attendance to ask questions regarding the proposal.
Arlene Reimer queried the drainage plan for the new development and sought reassurances from council that the ditch running along the rear of her property, which abuts the new development, would not be used by the developers. The ditch, she says, is on the private properties of a number of homeowners along Penny Lane.
Neighbour Cliff Samoinoff inquired into the design guidelines of homes within the new development in anticipation that the developers would be required to match the general design of other homes in the area.
Developer Ken Warkentin addressed the concerns, suggesting that design guidelines have not been drawn up but will match other developments like The Grande. No multifamily units are being proposed.
As for drainage, engineering has been completed for the development and water will be mostly self-contained, with the exception of it draining into the main ditch on the east side of Penny Lane.
Council voted unanimously in favor of the subdivision request.
Land Purchase
Finally, council discussed a proposal to move forward on the purchase of land from D. & V. Doerksen of the Île-des-Chênes area. The initial process began several years ago as council of the time recognized the eventual need for the expansion of the existing lagoon.
The agricultural land in question covers 65 acres in the northeast section immediately south of the lagoon.
“This is just for the security of it, because land [costs] are steadily rising in the area,” says Mayor Chris Ewen. “We’re not sure on how or when [we’ll need to expand the lagoon], but this is strictly based on cost savings for the municipality.”
He adds that the existing lagoon is nearing the end of its lifecycle and a proactive response is needed now. As for the cost of the land purchase, no information is currently available.