Setting terms for good neighbours

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

 

Wheatland County council gave first reading to the Intermunicipal Development Plan (IDP) between Wheatland County and the MD of Foothills 31 on Sept. 9. It is the first such agreement to be considered with the five counties that border Wheatland County land. The Foothills 31 and Wheatland County border each other along fifteen sections of land bordering the river, which divides Township 21 and Range 26 between the two counties.
“This is basically a good neighbour policy,” said Diane Horvath, representative planner from the Oldman River Regional Services Commision project team.
The plan falls under the mandate of the South Saskatchewan Regional plan and agreements must comply with its strategies. It also covers those participating in the Calgary Metropolitan Plan (CMP) and members of the Calgary Regional Partnership (CRP), but not those that have agreements outside of the CMP and CRP.
Public consultation, discussions with developers, administration and various councils were done in the initial planning prior to drawing up a draft plan.
There was an open house held in Carseland in June of this year, where several representatives from the various interests were present to answer questions; however, there were few of the public in attendance. There were no public in attendance in Wheatland County council for the Sept. 8 public hearing either. First reading of the plan was passed in July and another public hearing was held in the Wheatland County Council chambers.
The purpose of the agreement is to foster cooperation and mitigate conflict between municipalities in land use, infrastructure and future growth of their bordering properties.
Some of the goals were to:
• Work together to achieve the shared environmental, economic, and social outcomes in the South Saskatchewan Regional Plan and minimize negative environmental cumulative effects.
• Address common planning issues, especially where valued natural features and historic resources are of interests to more then one stakeholder and where the possible effect of development transcends jurisdictional boundaries.
• Coordinate and work with each other in their respective planning activities (such as in the development of plans and policies) and development approval process to address issues of mutual interest.
• Work together to anticipate, plan and set aside adequate land with the physical infrastructure and services required to accommodate future population growth and accompanying community development needs.
• Build awareness regarding the application of land-use planning tools that reduce the impact of residential, commercial and industrial developments on the land, including approaches and best practices for promoting the efficient use of private and public lands.
• Pursue joint use agreements, regional services commissions and any other joint cooperative arrangements that contribute specifically to intermunicipal land use planning.
• Consider the value of intermunicipal development planning to address land use on fringe areas, airport vicinity protection plan or other areas of mutual interest.
• Coordinate land use planning activities with First Nations, irrigation districts, school boards, health authorities and other agencies on areas of mutual interest. Background studies, issue examination, discussions with planners and open ‘houses for the public were all part of the preparation to drafting agreements.
The process hopes that the administration staff of the two counties can discuss common issues and reach an agreement and forward those agreements to their respective councils for approval.
The plan sets out rules for dispute processes. If the dispute can’t be solved in 30 days, the option to appeal to the Municipal Government and enter into mediation is the next step.
There have been many instances where such a plan would have helped Wheatland
Council resolve issues for their ratepayers, such as subdivisions of land bordering two counties, resolving roadway access in initiatives like the Rosebud Motorsports development and possibly water and utility placement in situations like the Muirfield area. The plan received second and third reading Sept. 8 and is now in effect.