Residents get last kick at the MDP

Times Contributor     

 

The County is asking residents and ratepayers to speak up on initiatives put forward in the Draft Municipal Development Plan (MDP). All municipalities over 3500 people are required by the government to have an MDP. It is a thirty year plan which is reviewed every five years. It guides County policy on development issues of future land use, municipal services, infrastructure and facilities. They can be expanded to include guidelines for financial planning, social, physical, economic, cultural, and environmental development and programs.

So, once initiatives are placed in the final draft and the bylaw is drafted and approved, residents will have to abide by its rules for another five years. 

“This is your opportunity to tell us if you agree or disagree with the draft, and tell us what you would like to see instead,” said Alex Taylor, Project Manager from Dillon Consulting who compiled the draft MDP.

Taylor combined information for the draft from: Alberta Government requirements, reviews of the previous MDP, results from discussions with County Council and Development and Planning staff, and all the feedback given at open houses held in the community, or submitted in writing. 

He presented a clear, organized summary of the suggested draft at open houses held in Cheadle and Rosebud on May 27 and 28 respectively. The various levels of planning were outlined, and Taylor showed where a MDP fits in. He described the various plans and policies affected by it, right down to an individual’s decision to build. He clarified more detailed information is developed in levels below the MDP, such as the Area Service Plans (ASP) and Land Use Bylaws. Taylor said the previous MDP had more context and this review is more specific and includes more policies. There is one third to one half new content in the revised MDP. The whole presentation and the previous 2006 MDP is posted on the County website www.wheatlandcounty.ca for residents and ratepayers to review, or they can pick up paper copies at the County office.

Residents have all summer to review the plan and submit input for inclusion in the final plan, which is scheduled for presentation to Council in September. Other stakeholders, such as WID, School Boards and area industries will receive a copy of the draft for consideration at this time. The old MDP plan will be amended or replaced through a newly written bylaw, which must pass three readings and one public hearing.

Any comments and questions can directed to Linda Henrickson, Project Manager at Wheatland County, 403 361-2024 Email: Linda.Henrickson@wheatlandcounty.ca or Alex Taylor, Project Manager, Dillon Consulting 403 215-8885 ext. 4246 Email: ataylor@dillon.ca