Cypress County Municipal Planning Committee reviews key development proposals 

Posted on May 29, 2025 by Ryan Dahlman

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Cypress County’ Municipal Planning Committee recently convened to address several significant development applications that will shape the region’s landscape and economy. From renewable energy initiatives to farmland subdivisions, these projects reflect the ongoing growth and modernization efforts in the area. Here’s a breakdown of some of the projects and proposals discussed.

Expansion of Wild Rose 2 Wind Project 

Wild Rose 2 Wind Inc. is pushing forward with its renewable energy efforts through the Wild Rose 2 Wind Project. Located to the south of Dunmore, this wind energy facility aims to increase the region’s renewable energy capacity.

The committee reviewed an application from the company seeking municipal approval for two additional wind turbines, T10 and T11, to be incorporated into the existing project. These turbines had been initially excluded from prior Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) approvals but are now part of an amendment application that is under review.

When complete, the Wild Rose 2 Wind Project will feature 38 Siemens Gamesa turbines, with a total capacity of 192 MW. Each turbine is equipped with 95.5-metre towers and 145-metre rotors. Aside from the turbines themselves, the project includes access roads, a power transformer, a meteorological tower, and facilities for operations and maintenance. The electricity generated will connect to the AltaLink Transmission Network via the Elkwater 264S substation.

A Bigger Workshop for Local Property Owners 

The Hilmoe’s property near Medicine Hat also came under review as part of the meeting. The couple applied for a development permit to build a 2,000-square-foot shop for personal use, slightly exceeding the allowable size by 400 square feet.

If approved, this new shop will replace a 936-square-foot detached garage and a 168-square-foot greenhouse, which the Hilmoes have committed to partially removing to comply with land use regulations. The shop will primarily serve as a storage facility.

Subdivision Proposals Tied to Local Agriculture 

Two subdivision applications that centre on agriculture also drew attention during the meeting.

The first, from Sand Box Farms Inc., involves a plan to carve out a 1.81-hectare (4.4-acre) parcel from an irrigated quarter section. This subdivision will enable the parcel to be sold to a joint venture company formed by the applicant and two other farmers. The collaboration is intended to offset hefty equipment and building costs tied to potato farming. With the financing from this sale, the farmers aim to expand facilities by August 2025 to meet their growing crop commitments.

The second subdivision application, concerning a property near Suffield, seeks to resolve a long-standing land-use issue. Back in 2009, a house approved for construction was mistakenly placed on grazing land instead of its designated plot. This oversight left the property’s legal status in limbo for over a decade. The council is now considering a subdivision and consolidation plan to realign the property boundaries, ensuring proper title allocation and correcting the error.

Learn More

For more information on these and other agenda items discussed at the meeting, visit Cypress County’s website and click on government then minutes & agendas. Past meetings can also be viewed on the County’s YouTube channel.