A new fenced off-leash dog park has been approved by Town Coalhurst Council at a Regular Town Council Meeting held Aug. 20.
Following a recommendation by the Wetlands Enhancement Advisory Committee, the development will take place in the northeast portion of Coalhurst, near 55th Avenue and Range Road 223.
As part of the recommendation, it was noted an off-leash dog park was one of the most requested amenities by residents when they were asked what should be included in the Wetlands area development.
Up to $160,000 has been approved from the Wetlands Enhancement budget for the building of the dog park, which will include double-gated entrances, an area specified for smaller dogs, a six-foot chain link fence, benches, dog waste bag stations and garbage cans and a gravel pathway within the park.
Additionally, a parking lot will be added near the dog park, providing easy access to the area.
Also at the meeting, the 2024 Street Improvement Project has been awarded to a contractor. Once construction dates have been confirmed, residents will be notified. During the Street Improvement Project, a number of roadways and sections of sidewalk will be repaired.
Council also received a report outlining the bylaw enforcement process for properties that are deemed “unsightly” and require maintenance. Specifically, the report addressed vacant lots that may have tall grass and weeds on the properties.
Currently, there are 67 vacant lots in residential neighbourhoods throughout Coalhurst. These lots are normally maintained by the owners, usually twice a month. “However, when a property is found to be unsightly, either by observation or complaint, the property owner is sent a ‘Notice of Unsightly Property’ letter.”
Throughout July, municipal enforcement sent 18 notices to property owners, of which only three required further enforcement action.
A new bylaw for “Responsible Animal Control and Ownership” was given first reading and was moved to the Committee of the Whole meeting Sept. 10 for further discussion.
The draft bylaw is intended to consolidate and simplify multiple other prescriptive and outdated animal-related bylaws and policies into a single bylaw for ease of understanding and application.
Proposed changes within the bylaw include putting animal fees in a bylaw rather than in policies; rescinding redundant or outdated policies; minimizing rules around the keeping of cats and preserving basic rules around the keeping of dogs. The “Urban Hen” bylaw adopted in 2022 is not impacted.
During the discussion, Council members noted they’re interested in having community feedback on animal control and ownership in Coalhurst to help better inform their decisions moving forward.
