First reading approved to support local agriculture and rural business growth

The County of St. Paul has taken its first formal step toward supporting a family-run honey extraction operation near Mallaig, approving first reading of a rezoning application for a 10-acre parcel of land.

Council supported the change at its January 13 meeting, allowing the land to move from the Country Residential One (CR1) to the Agricultural (A) District, a designation better suited to the proposed use.

Rezoning request tied to beekeeping operation

Planning and Development Officer Yiren Liu explained that the landowners requested the redesignation to accommodate a honey extraction plant tied to their beekeeping business. The family operates approximately 1,500 beehives, most of which are placed in the Municipal District of Bonnyville during the summer months.

The long-term plan includes constructing an extraction facility on the parcel and potentially using the site for winter storage of hives.

Any development permit for the extraction plant itself would be reviewed separately at a later stage, pending final approval of the rezoning.

Better fit for agricultural use

While a honey extraction plant is already considered an extensive agricultural use and is technically permitted under the current CR1 zoning, administration noted the requested change better reflects the true nature of the operation.

The rezoning also resolves land use limitations tied to residential parcel size within a quarter section. According to the agenda, the land was originally designated CR1 because the combined residential acreage in the quarter section exceeded the typical 20-acre limit under the County’s Land Use Bylaw.

Liu confirmed the proposed change aligns with the County’s Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw, both of which encourage agricultural operations across the municipality.

Area context and council discussion

The subject parcel is near an existing industrial lot used for seed and agrichemical storage, which provides additional context for the agricultural designation.

During council discussion, Reeve Glen Ockerman asked local councillor Louis Dechaine for his perspective on the proposal and its impact on the area. Dechaine indicated the project is viewed positively and that nearby landowners are not opposed.

Dechaine put forward the motion to approve first reading of the rezoning, which council carried.

Next steps

The rezoning application will return to council for further readings before it can be finalized. If ultimately approved, the applicants would then proceed through the development permit process for the honey extraction facility.

For now, council’s decision signals support for locally based agricultural businesses and value-added farming operations within the County of St. Paul.