Lacombe County council approved final readings for Bylaw No. 1464/26, placing 59 county-owned properties under current reserve and utility land designations. The classifications will not change how the properties are used or managed. Screenshot

Lacombe County council has approved new legal designations for 59 county-owned properties following a public hearing at its Aug. 27 regular meeting.

Council gave second and third reading to Bylaw No. 1464/26, designating 30 properties as environmental reserve, 27 as municipal reserve and two as public utility lots. The bylaw came into effect following final approval.

The bylaw updates land that had been designated simply as reserve under earlier versions of Alberta’s Municipal Government Act. It also assigns current legal classifications to properties already being managed as environmental reserve, municipal reserve or public utility land.

According to the council agenda, the changes will not alter how the properties are used or managed.

Administration said the updated classifications provide clearer legal support for the county’s Parks and Reserve Management Bylaw and reserve land policy.

Under the Municipal Government Act, environmental reserve land must be left in its natural state or used as a public park. Municipal reserve land may be used for parks, recreation areas, school board purposes or as a buffer between different land uses.

Public utility lots may be used for infrastructure and services including water, sewage disposal, drainage, electricity and telecommunications.

Bylaw No. 1464/26 also repeals Bylaw No. 1408/24, which previously addressed reserve land designations. The new bylaw updates the legal descriptions of the affected properties.

Council gave the bylaw first reading June 25 and scheduled the Aug. 27 public hearing. Notice was published in six local newspapers, posted on the county’s website and circulated through social media.

The agenda report stated no written submissions had been received when it was prepared. Any submissions received after the agenda was published were to be provided to council before the hearing.

Council gave the bylaw second and third reading following the public hearing.