County needs French translation in bylaw for the very first time

Cypress County is set to debate its first ever bylaw that includes a translation in French.

Votes will be registered on Oct. 6 on the Cypress County Municipal Airport Authority. Like a similar bylaw in Medicine Hat, it would transfer some planning powers near the Medicine Hat Regional Airport from the federal ministry of transportation to local planning commissions.

As it delineates powers between the county, city and Ottawa, a French translation is required.

The bylaw would allow local governments greater control to set standards for lands affected by federally regulated airspace. Medicine Hat administrators who spent years soliciting Canadian officials and developing an initial template agreement called it a first of its kind in Canada when city council passed its version several years ago.

Cypress County would gain greater control to set things like building heights in areas encompassed in the southward take-off and landing approach. That extends several kilometres into the county, outside the city’s southwest limits.

Written submissions to a public hearing set for Oct. 6 county council meeting in Dunmore are due by Oct. 2.