(Photo: TrekEarth)

By Sheldon Spackman

Making Life Simpler

Sylvan Lake simplifies approval process for Marina Bay water access platforms

Jul 25, 2019 | 9:25 AM

Homeowners at Sylvan Lake’s Marina Bay will now have a faster, simpler process in getting water access platforms on their properties approved by the Town’s development officer.

This after council gave final approval Monday night to amendments of the Town’s Land Use Bylaw which gives the Town’s development officer authority to grant variances to existing water access platforms at Marina Bay and enforce current regulations for any newly proposed platforms.

According to Town officials, the amendments will speed up permit processing for applicants and provide a greater level of certainty in granting relaxations for developments that have been in existence for a long period of time.

In addition, it’s anticipated the streamlined process would cut down on administration’s application processing time, as permit applications needing approval for variances would no longer be required to go to Municipal Planning Commission meetings, which require staff to write reports and attend those meetings.

As a result of those cost-savings, officials say the changes will allow for a reduction in the Town’s fee for water access platforms from the current $300 to $150.

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In 2018, the Town’s Land Use Bylaw was amended to allow for water access platforms within Marina Bay, with the rationale being to allow new structures for Marina Bay homeowners to safely access the water from the rear of their properties.

Town officials point-out the new regulations only apply to properties backing onto the bay and channel, with provisions made to allow for the development of stairs or ramps in order to access the water and platforms.

Regulations in the bylaw are said to allow for stairs and ramps within the rear yard, provided they are no wider than 1.22 m (4 feet) and are not permanently anchored and designed to be removable.

Since the implementation of the new regulations, Town officials say administration has been receiving applications for water access platforms and their associated stairs.

Although many applications for new development have been straight forward and easily able to follow the bylaw regulations according to Town officials, the existing structures are said to be raising some issues that have made implementing the regulations more challenging.

Officials note some of the existing structures (stairs/ramps) do not meet the four-foot wide requirement, while others have been constructed more permanently, with the full extent of the construction and how they are anchored being unknown.

Town officials say all applications must be signed off by the Marina Bay Homeowners Association, who must be supportive of any variance being requested.