Peggie’s Feline Rescue Society will be permitted to move forward with development on a residential property in East Coulee, despite opposition from some of its neighbours, following a written decision by the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB).
The SDAB held an appeal hearing on Friday, April 1 and heard from appellants regarding their concerns about the rescue operating within the neighbourhood, listing health and nuisance concerns as some of their reasons for opposition.
A written notice of the decision was posted on Friday, April 15 stating, “The board denies the appeal and upholds the Development Permit on the same conditions as set out in the Development Permit issued by the Development Authority.”
The basis of the appeal was a cat rescue is not listed as one of the permitted uses under the Home Occupation - Urban definition within the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) under which the development permit was approved.
However, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Darryl Drohomerski, acting as Development Officer during the hearing, noted the LUB does not provide an exhaustive list of approved home occupations.
Neither accounting nor aesthetician services are named in the LUB as permitted uses under the Home Occupation - Urban definition but are accepted as a permitted use.
Mr. Drohomerski also noted an appeal hearing is normally only held in the event of a discretionary use, not a permitted use, and this was outside the normal scope for this development permit. It was also pointed out the LUB is broad, allowing it to be “open to interpretation” and “more adaptable” for both residents and potential businesses.
Along with citing the development did not fit within the LUB, the appellants also raised health and safety concerns from contamination or exposure to cat urine and feces, along with smell and noise nuisance concerns.
The board determined, based on inspections completed by Alberta Health Services (AHS), there were no health concerns relating to groundwater contamination from cat urine or feces; the board also noted concerns about noise and smell nuisance “should be raised with the appropriate municipal officials” as these are enforcement issues and not something the board is able to address.

A strong contingent of Zone 2 athletes was at the 55-plus Winter Games in Edmonton from April 7-10.
Drumheller is part of Zone 2 and this team represented around 200 of the 1,100 athletes that competed in Edmonton. Zone 2 President Linda Traquair was excited by the participation and the results.
Some local members of the team came home with a collection of medals.
In Pickleball, in the Mixed Doubles age 55, Laurie and Duane Bolin won gold, and Irv and Corinne Gerling took the silver medal in the Mixed Doubles age 70. In the Men’s Doubles, age 65 Irv Gerling and Bob Chambers took bronze, and in the Women’s Doubles, age 60 Laurie Bolin and Corinne Gerling took sixth place. In the Men’s Doubles age 55, Duane Bolin and Robert Thomas won gold.
The bowling teams also did well. The 65 -plus team, consisting of Sandra Irwin of Hanna, Tillie Llewellyn, Wendy Sisson, Debbie LaPlante, and Carol McLean won bronze. The 75-plus team, consisting of Remie Defoor, Jim Milman, Margaret Nielsen, and two competitors from Okotoks won bronze. Linda Traquair won bronze in the 55-plus scratch.
The Zone 2 Women’s hockey team, the Rundle Deuces, which includes Alison Ostergard and Karen McMillan competed at the games and came home with a bronze medal.
Already the team is preparing for the summer games in Peace River from June 16-20. So far six of the eight spots for crib are Drumheller teams. A competitor will be playing in Slow-pitch, and Jim Millman will be competing in cycling. There are also golf athletes getting ready to compete.
“We are just doing the competitions for photography and arts and crafts,” said Traquair, adding on Sunday April 24, the qualifier for floor shuffleboard is in Drumheller.