The meeting takes place at Battleford Town Hall on Monday, May 5, 2025. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

NEW BUSINESS

Battleford council supports zoning path for new chemical warehouse in industrial park

May 6, 2025 | 2:05 PM

A chemical warehouse and retail outlet proposed for Battleford’s industrial park has cleared an early hurdle, with council supporting a zoning interpretation amid safety and environmental concerns.

Town council passed three resolutions Monday night during its regular meeting that will allow the proponent of the agricultural chemical storage and sales facility to proceed with a pending land sale and continue gathering outstanding permit requirements.

The facility, planned for vacant land in the park, would include a 6,000-square-foot warehouse for farm-use chemicals. The industrial area is located in the southern part of the town, near the intersection of Highway 4 and 29th Street. Construction could begin as early as this fall.

Andrea Carroll, the town’s planning technician, told council the business would not involve fertilizer or anhydrous ammonia, but said the application is being interpreted under the “bulk fertilizer sales and storage” category because the zoning bylaw doesn’t have a subclass for general chemical sales.

“I would err towards the side of discretionary use because agricultural chemicals are hazardous, and you want to be careful with how we approve those and the conditions that go on there,” she said.

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Council’s interpretation does not grant full development approval, but provides zoning clarity — a key step to move the land transaction forward and allow the applicant to complete outstanding requirements, including fire safety input, hazardous materials review and neighbourhood consultation under the discretionary use process.

One of the concerns raised during the meeting was the site’s proximity to homes, with the nearest residential property located about 70 metres away. Carroll noted that while agricultural chemicals don’t have a formal setback requirement, other substances like petroleum and fertilizer are typically subject to an 80- to 90-metre buffer.

She added that the applicant is willing to consult with the fire department and implement safety measures if needed.

Coun. Shelley Boutin-Gervais also raised enviromental concerns, asking, ““If there’s chemicals, is there an environmental issue with that, and who’s responsible for that?”

Carroll said the applicant holds the necessary provincial approvals and would be required to follow provincial remediation protocols in the event of a spill.

“He would have to report and then remediate it according to the Ministry of Environment standards,” she said. “It’s pretty stringent.”

Under provincial regulations, facilities that store hazardous substances must be approved by the Ministry of Environment before they are built, expanded or altered. Operators are also required to obtain approval to dismantle or decommission equipment, ensuring sites are constructed, maintained and shut down in a way that minimizes environmental and health risks.

Concerns were also raised about airborne hazards. Mayor Ames Leslie, who said he has years of experience managing similar facilities, acknowledged a potential risk.

“They’re not aerosols but there are insecticides that could potentially be in this building,” he said, adding that most of the chemicals would need to be mixed with water before becoming active or posing any airborne risk.

He emphasized that despite the zoning classification, no fertilizer will be stored on site. Most of the products, he added, are widely available in consumer quantities.

“There is some risk there, but the large majority of the chemicals that are going to be for sale in this facility you can buy at your local hardware store,” Leslie said.

Council’s decision followed a request from administration to interpret whether the proposed use fits within general industrial zoning, whether chemical sales fall under the bulk fertilizer category, and whether retail activity would be allowed under that classification. All three interpretations were approved.

The next step will involve a discretionary use process, landowner authorization and additional agency input. A final decision on the development permit is tentatively expected in June.

Town administration said in a report that the project supports strategic goals, including economic development, responsible growth and clear governance.

“I’m excited. Anytime you have investment in your community by a commercial and industrial entity, it’s a good thing,” said Leslie.

The name of the business has not yet been released.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com