Photo: Stettler County heard an application from Buffalo Lake campground operator Bar W RV Resort, represented at the MPC meeting by Keith Wilson, who attended virtually. The application for a development permit for a mini golf course was centred at Bar W’s campground. Rural Alberta Report/Screenshot

A large RV resort at Buffalo Lake had its initial mini golf course plan approved by the County of Stettler Municipal Planning Commission (MPC). A development permit was approved at the Nov. 12 special MPC meeting.

Readers should note the MPC is comprised of members of county council and the Nov. 12 meeting was chaired by Coun. Justin Stevens.

Board members heard an application from Buffalo Lake campground operator Bar W RV Resort, represented at the MPC meeting by Keith Wilson, who attended virtually. The application for a development permit for a mini golf course was centred at Bar W’s campground located at NE20-40-20-4, which it was noted is zoned recreational facility.

Director of Planning and Development Craig Teal noted in his report the addition of a mini golf development met all the county’s existing bylaws, policies and agreements. “The subject property is located on the south shore of Buffalo Lake between the Summer Village of Rochon Sands and the Summer Village of White Sands,” stated Teal in the agenda item.

“The west portion of the subject property has been developed as a 318 site recreational vehicle park, rural convenience store and shop/maintenance building under a previous development permit application that was approved in 2023.

“The current application is for the creation of an 18-hole mini-golf course with a related attendant shack and parking area.

“The proposed location of the course is an approximately 6,000 square foot area to the east of the maintenance building and directly north of the main entrance. The parking area for the mini-golf course is proposed to be east of the course using the existing parking area and an extra parking area extending to the north. The attendant shack and entrance/exit to the course is at the southwest corner of the course location. A perimeter fence will surround the course area. The course would be available for use by the recreational vehicle park occupants and the public.” The fact that the mini golf course and store would be open to the public was mentioned several times at the meeting.

Teal stated a few details were noticed by staff, including the setback requirement: he observed there must be a 125 foot setback from the centre line of a county road, in this case Bayview Street, to address dust and snow issues; Teal added the site in question has ample room for this and could be addressed in the site plan. He also noted pavement requirements were relaxed for the Bar W Resort and that could be extended to the mini golf development.

As far as parking, the agenda item included a detailed explanation from Wilson on how parking and traffic shouldn’t be an issue for the mini golf development. “Our existing occupancy rate of the campground is 13 per cent,” stated Wilson. “So, the impact the mini golf course will have on the traffic to the resort will not burden the roads. We are also seasonal so the impact will be minimal. Most customers will be from the Bar W and two local villages White Sands and Rochon Sands. So, the majority of the traffic will already be in the area.”

Teal added that when the campground was approved it included ample traffic provisions that appeared to cover traffic proposed by the mini golf development. “So we aren’t particularly concerned about the amount of increased traffic coming from the mini golf per se, even if it is open to the broad public,” said Teal.

Coun. Stevens asked if both the store and mini golf would be open to the public to which Teal responded, “Correct.”

During discussion councillors talked about details like washrooms, fence and structure heights and opening date; Wilson stated if everything goes well he hopes the mini golf will be open by June, 2026.

Board members approved the development permit application with conditions including changes to the fence height and an extra washroom.